Farmers demand fair price for sugarcane

New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) Thousands of sugarcane farmers from Uttar Pradesh today staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here, decrying the Centre's move to fix the sugarcane prices without coordination with the Sugarcane Committee and Mill owners.

The farmers have been demanding that prices should be fixed after talks with their representatives so that they get a fair price of their produce. The Central government had given a fixed price of Rs 129.85 per quintal for sugarcane for the year 2009-10 crushing season under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) system.

Thousands of farmers influxed to city from the neighbouring state under the aegis of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan. However, the leadership looked divided as RLD and BKU were protesting at different places and asking others to join for the bigger good.

Addressing the protestors, RLD supremo Ajit Singh said the prices should be decided in coordination with the Sugarcane Committee and Mill owners. ''We will not accept the unfair prices fixed by the government,'' Mr Singh exhorted.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav said, ''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar are responsible for the sugarcane crisis,''

Mr Yadav said he would lead a movement of the farmers of the country whose condition, according to him, was the worst in the world.

SP general secretary Amar Singh opined that the UPA government was not bothered about the condition of the farmers and has been importing raw sugar from Brazil on higher prices, but reluctant to give fair price
to the farmers for their produce.

BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the farmers and are now ready to fight for their rights and have come here for their problems and not for any party.

''The farmers in Haryana are getting Rs 210 per quintal, whereas we are offered only Rs 170. The prices of sugar have doubled as compared to last year, but look at the prices of sugarcane, just Rs 20 have been increased,'' Mr Tikait complained.

BKU has demanded a price of Rs 280 per quintal for the sugarcane, saying its prices should increase in proportion to
that of sugar.

The executive order would affect around 40 lakh farmers in UP alone.

''The government wants to ruin the farmers but we will not act as sitting ducks. We can stop the supply of essential goods, including milk and vegetables, as well as buses and trains. We can also stop the supply of water to Delhi and for all that we need not come to Delhi,'' Mr Singh warned.

UP State Advisory Price (SAP) had been set between Rs 165 and Rs 170 per quintal and the Centre had given a
fixed price of Rs 129.85 per quintal for sugarcane for the year 2009-10 crushing season under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) system.

In case, a state government fixed SAP higher than the FRP, it would have to pay the difference.