Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana(SSS) called off its indefinite agitation after government yielded to both the demands and assured that it would ensure that the sugarcane farmers in the state would receive their dues towards Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP).

The government has assured that it would take action against erring sugar factories if they fail to pay the farmers’ dues towards FRP in the next 15 days. The state has also said that it will seize the properties of errant factories to pay the dues.

Shetkari’s Sadabhau Khot and Hatkanangale constituency Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetti had launched an indefinite agitation for payment of FRP to the farmers. Thousands of farmers had travelled to Pune to participate in this agitation, which was staged outside the sugar commissioner’s office.

Shetti said since the government has assured that farmers would be allowed to repay crop loans till August 15 instead of June 30, and that it would take action against erring sugar factories, the agitation was called off. Cooperatives minister Chandrakant Patil said the government had taken a lenient approach initially, but now since the Centre has provided financial package, the state, after distributing money from this package, would take action against erring sugar mills and ensure that farmers are paid their dues.