Financial express reports that Orissa Govt. will formulate a sugar policy soon. Excerpts:

“The state will soon announce a policy for sugar industries and cane growers”, said state agriculture director, Arabinda Padhi. “We are, in fact, working on formulating the policy “ he added.

Only last week, the Federation of Sugar Industries, in a memorandum to the state government, had demanded that the government come out with a policy to promote sugar mills and cane farming. According to the federation, there is a huge potential to not only make the state self-sufficient in sugar production but also exports. Pointing out that 12.5% value-added tax on cane, the highest in the country, was killing sugar mills in the state, the federation demanded that Vat rates be immediately rationalised. It said at least 15 crore farm labour days could be created in the cane sector in the state. “