PM Admits Failure to Curb Spiral in Sugar Prices
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday admitted to a policy failure on the sugar front which, in recent months, has resulted in a huge spiral in the prices of the commodity.
“If there is a failure of economic policy, it is with regard to sugar… we have not been able to find a practical and pragmatic way to deal with the cyclical behaviour of sugarcane production,” Singh said while replying to the debate on motion of thanks to the President’s address.
Allaying demands for a parliamentary probe into the import-export of the commodity, Singh clarified that sugar was exported as part of international commitments and added that the exports were negligible compared to imports.
Listing the export-import figures the prime minister said: “In November 2009, India exported sugar worth Rs 7.94 crore whereas it imported sugar worth Rs 611.40 crore. In December 2009, export of sugar was worth Rs 12.34 crore whereas import was worth Rs 216.90 crore.” Singh said.
