<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Ram Vilas Paswan reviewed issues related to the sugar sector with officials of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. In a review meeting held in New Delhi yesterday, issues like sugar production, outstanding payments arrears of sugarcane farmers, ethanol production and other related issues were discussed. Mr. Paswan directed officials to issue necessary guidelines for timely payments of outstanding arrears of sugarcane farmers. The Minister was informed that sugar production is expected to reach 270 Lakh tonnes this year.<br />''<br />''Measures taken by the government for current sugar season 2019-20 include reimbursement of carrying cost of 1674 crore rupees towards maintenance of buffer stock of 40 Lakh Metric Tonnes of sugar. Government is also providing assistance of 10, 448 rupees per Metric Tonnes to sugar mills to meet expenses on export of 60 Lakh Metric Tonnes of sugar with the likely expenditure of about 6,268 crore rupees.<br />''<br />''In this sugar season, out of total cane dues of about 66,934 crore rupees on Fair and Remunerative Price basis, about 49,251 crore rupees have been paid to sugarcane farmers. Only 17,683 crore rupees are pending. On State Advised Price basis, out of total cane dues of about 72,065 crore rupees, about 49,986 crore rupees have been paid to sugarcane farmers.</span><br />