Maharashtra : Shetti claims mills have Rs 2,000 crore sugar cane FRP dues
Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti said 129 Maharashtra sugar mills still owe ₹2,005 crore in FRP despite 40 days of crushing. Only 34 mills paid fully. He demanded immediate recovery of dues. His supporters also sought soyabean purchase centres in Gadhinglaj, where farmers are forced to sell below MSP due to govt inaction.
Kolhapur: Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti claimed that despite 40 days into the sugar cane crushing season, 129 sugar mills in Maharashtra owed fair and remunerative price (FRP) dues totalling Rs 2,005 crore.He wrote a letter to the State Sugar Commissioner’s office on Nov 1 to recover the FRP dues from these mills and pay the farmers.By Nov 15, mills had crushed 1.1 crore tonnes of sugar cane, of which 34 sugar mills paid 100% of the FRP while 129 mills still owed payments. According to the rules, sugar mills were required to make payment within 15 days of crushing the sugar cane.”It is mandatory to pay 100% of the FRP amount within two weeks. We fought in the courts to get one-time payment of FRP restored after govt allowed mills to pay FRP in instalments. The mills try to evade the compulsion; however, it is the right of every farmer to get the FRP in a lump sum so that he can begin the process of cultivation for the next season,” said Shetti.Demand to open soyabean purchase centresShetti’s supporters also held a ghantanad protest outside the sub-divisional office of Gadhinglaj, demanding the opening of soyabean purchase centres.
Soyabean is grown on over 14,000 hectares in the tehsil. The govt purchases soyabean at a fixed rate to force the market to follow the line. Farmers hope to sell their produce to govt since the assured price is Rs 5,328 per quintal, while private traders are buying soyabean at Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,000 per quintal.Rajendra Gadyannawar, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana’s functionary, said, “Gadhinglaj produces 2 lakh tonnes of soyabean. Govt officials cite a shortage of gunny sacks for not opening up purchase centres. The market price is much below the cost of production. Due to the lack of purchase centres, the farmers are forced to sell their produce at a low cost. Guardian minister Prakash Abitkar asked the authorities to open purchase centres by Nov 15; however, none have been started yet.”
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Source : The Times Of India
