Sugarcane farmers demand rate hike, plan morcha

the goan I networkrPONDA r rThe meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours and chaired by AGUUS president Rajendra Jeevaji Desai, was convened in Sanjeevani Sakhar Karkhana, which was attended by many members. AGUUS has 1200-odd members, who are active in sugarcane cultivation. rNow, AGUUS has demanded Rs 3,400 per tonne of sugarcane. Earlier, their demand was Rs 3,600. At present, they are getting Rs 2,500 per tonne of sugarcane. rThe farmers present for the meeting lamented that the government has not heed to their demand and they face loss. According to the farmers, sugarcane farming is not affordable if government pays mere Rs 2500, as cost of labour and other things have gone up. rEarlier, Desai had stated that the government had assured to give Rs 3,000 per tonne of sugarcane from the financial year 2018-19, which they had asked to start from this financial year, but nothing was done. rIt may be recalled that in January, AGUUS had served an ultimatum to go on indefinite hunger strike if their demand was not met. They had demanded Rs 3,600 and withdrew the strike only after then chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar assured to make provision in the budget. rIn 2016, the government had increased the support price from Rs 1200 to 1300. Apart from this, farmers were getting Rs 1200 from Sanjeevani Sakhar Karkhana. r“Presently, we are getting Rs 2500 after every tonne. We want the government to raise this slab atleast to Rs 3400. We want the Sanjeevani to take responsibility of harvesting,” Desai said. rTheir demand also includes clearance of 80 per cent of the bill amount within 15 days of sugarcane supply. “We should get 80 per cent amount within 15 days. It becomes tough to do agricultural activities when bills are not cleared,” Desai said. rAGUUS has demanded appointment of efficient officers to look the affairs of Sanjeevani Sakhar Karkhana and to give pace to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. rIt has also demanded waiving the agriculture loan and free electricity.