Indian sugar mills association

BKU threatens protest if cane prices not hiked

Date:	18 Jan 2016

Source:	The Times of India

Reporter:	TNN

News ID:	5189

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BIJNOR: Irked that the prices of sugarcane had not been changed in the district this year, and remained at Rs 280 per quintal similar to the last three years, farmers of Bijnor district under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) are all set to stage a protest against the same.

As many as 2.64 lakh farmers are into sugarcane farming and say that though the prices of sugarcane are increasing at a rate of 15% every year, the rates have not been hiked in Bijnor for the past three years.

If bank authorities are to be believed, in 2008, the total loan availed by farmers of the district was Rs 1,071 crore, which has shot up to Rs 3,678 crore in the current financial year.

Discussing the issue, Rajendra Singh, general secretary, BKU, said, "In the past two years, the Centre as well as the state government has given a lot of subsidy to sugar mills but nothing has been done for the welfare of farmers. This year, both sugar recovery and sugar prices have increased. Sugar prices have gone up to Rs 3,100 per quintal. In fact, it should be noticed that sugarcane is not only required for the production of sugar but also ethanol, electricity, alcohol, spirit and many other things."

Singh further said, "Farmers are trapped in loans but nothing is being done to alleviate their plight. The prices of sugarcane have not increased in the last three years in the district. If the rates are not hiked this year, we will protest by halting trains and blocking roads."

When TOI contacted district sugarcane officer OP Singh, he said, "The price of sugarcane continues to be Rs 280 per quintal. Though the state government has declared prices of sugarcane across the state, we have not received any notification. We cannot do anything till the time we receive an official notification."

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