India cannot control global sugar prices, says minister

Nitin Gadkari, a senior Union minister, has acknowledged the constraints governments face in regulating global commodity prices, emphasizing that India's agricultural sector requires structural reforms to ensure farmer viability.

Drawing on his experience in a sugarcane-producing region, Gadkari highlighted the severity of agrarian distress, noting that the area has witnessed approximately 10,000 farmer suicides over recent years. He attributed these tragedies to the fundamental economic non-viability of Indian agriculture rather than price fluctuations alone.

"The core of this problem is that our agriculture is not economically viable," Gadkari stated, underscoring that policymakers have spent 15-20 years grappling with the issue without achieving lasting solutions. His remarks suggest that addressing farmer welfare requires interventions beyond price controls, pointing toward the need for comprehensive agricultural reform.

The minister's comments come amid ongoing concerns about agricultural distress in India, where volatile commodity prices and structural challenges continue to pressure farmers. Government officials have increasingly acknowledged that sustainable solutions require modernization of farming practices, improved supply chains, and value-added processing rather than price interventions alone.

Gadkari's statement reflects a broader recognition within India's administration that while policy can support farmers through various schemes, global market dynamics remain largely beyond governmental control. The focus, he suggested, must shift toward making agriculture itself a profitable enterprise.