New Delhi, June 8 - Lower sugarcane prices paid by sugar mills in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu have pushed farmers to shift to other crops, the Financial Express reported on Monday.
Higher prices of turmeric and tapioca, a thickening agent in food, have helped farmers to shift from cane, the newspaper said, citing members of a farmers' body in the state.
Trade forecasts of a 45 percent drop in sugar output to 14.7 million tonnes in the crop year to September have led to a spurt in domestic sugar prices, making many believe farmers will plant more cane to capitalise on higher prices.