Summary:
If we continue with the same, we will only be suffer more losses if the cane crushing is delayed.”The leader said that the present stand of the millers has been accepted, considering all the factors. Following the ongoing financial crisis, the millers are unable to pay full FRP as a one-time payment and Rs 2,300 per tonne has been deposited in the farmers’ bank accounts,” said the statement.“The millers want to pay the FRP in one go but because of fixed market price of sugar being at Rs 2,900 per quintal, problems are being faced in selling the sugar in the market. We are trying our best to persuade the government to provide financial assistance to the millers to pay the farmers,” it said.At present, the sugar cane crop is at a ripe stage and if farmers continue their agitation, this will affect its sale and they may be forced to suffer further losses.“Keeping in view this factor, the farmers agreed to stall their agitation and we assured them of full FRP in instalments, which is mandatory,” added the statement.Kolhapur district unit head of the SSS, Bhagwan Kate, said, “We agree with the opinion of the millers and have decided to call off the agitation. Kolhapur: Sugar cane farmers on Monday called off their agitation against the factories over delayed and part payment as it will hit the sale of fresh crops that will soon be ready for harvesting.The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) is, however, firm on its planned agitation on January 27 at the office of the sugar commissionerate in Pune.It is demanding one-time payment of fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugar cane supplied to the factories by the farmers.“The decision to call off the agitation was taken at a meeting between sugar mills and farmers here stopping the operations of factories would have an adverse impact on the sale of the next crop,” said the SSS and sugar millers in a joint statement, a copy of which is with TOI.According to the statement, the millers and the SSS discussed the issues related to the FRP in detail and the SSS agreed to stall the agitation.“We discussed in detail about the payment of the FRP. “However, we are firm on our demand for full payment of FRP from millers and will launch an agitation under the leadership of Raju Shetti at the sugar commissioner’s office in Pune on January 27.”Meanwhile, police detained around 20 members of the SSS for their alleged attempt to enter the premises of the district collectorate and obstruct the proceedings of the district planning development committee meeting on Sunday.Police have, however, not yet been able to take action against the unidentified protesters who had set afire the offices of two sugar mills and ransacked four on Saturday.The two sugar mills whose offices were set alight by the unidentified farmers are situated in Satara and Sangli districts while four offices that were ransacked and forcibly shut down are in Kolhapur district.The incidents happened soon after farmers realised that most of the private and cooperative sugar factories had only deposited 80% of the money they owed to them in their bank accounts.They were upset as it is mandatory for factories to make full payment within 14 days after cane is taken for crushing.The factories deposited the money at the rate of Rs 2,300 per tonne while the fair and remunerative price (FRP) is Rs 2,800 per tonne..