Farmers protest marginal hike in sugar cane prices | Patna News
Bettiah: Accusing the state govt of announcing only a marginal increase in sugar cane prices, farmers on Friday burnt the effigy of the sugar cane minister on the main road near the subdivision headquarters in Bagaha in West Champaran district.Dozens of farmers gathered at the protest site, alleging that the Bihar govt had failed to keep its promise. They demanded that the minimum price of sugar cane be fixed at not less than Rs 400 per quintal.Chhote Srivastava, state secretary of the Sugarcane Cultivators Association, said sugar cane farmers in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are being paid Rs 400 per quintal, while diesel prices there are also around Rs 8 per litre cheaper than in Bihar. He said this has made the cost of cultivation much higher for farmers in Bihar.He added that a letter issued by the sugar cane department of the Bihar govt mentions an increase of Rs 15 per quintal for premium-grade sugarcane and Rs 20 per quintal for medium-grade sugarcane. “This is a fraud with farmers,” he said, adding that even after the hike, the price of high-quality sugarcane would be only Rs 380 per quintal, which is far below the cost of production.Farmer Naresh Prasad said expenses on ploughing, irrigation and transportation have increased sharply due to the high price of diesel, while the sugar cane price has not been raised as expected. He said this has pushed farmers into a financial crisis. During the protest, farmers warned that if the govt does not meet their demands, they will launch a large-scale agitation in the coming days and may also stop sugar cane sowing.Farmer Suresh Ram said a large population in the Bagaha region depends on agriculture, with most families earning their livelihood from sugar cane cultivation. “Despite being a cash crop, farmers are becoming frustrated and helpless due to the lack of a fair price,” he said.
