New Delhi, Apr 27 (IANS): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan raising the plight of sugarcane farmers in the state.

The Chief Minister in his letter wrote that due to freezing of the quota the sugar produced by cooperative mills could not be sold.

"Due to the previous stock unsold the dues of farmers could not be paid and in new crushing season the stock is piling up," said Baghel.

He said due to coronavirus and circumstances thereof the sugarcane farmers' problem is serious in nature. Since 2018 sugar is sold as per the quota by the government and the mills in the state are run by cooperative society.

"In FY 2019-20, 35,000 farmers produced 7,44,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane which cost Rs 195 crore. But due to unforeseen circumstances payment could not be made and with the pandemic the farmers are facing double brunt," wrote Baghel.

He said that the state has 58 lakh BPL families and the state is providing them food grain and sugar.