Summary:
They continue to blame the government for failure to pay farmers. Almost all mills in South Maharashtra belong to Congress and NCP leaders, and farmers are their primary vote bank. It is mandatory for millers to pay farmers FRP within 14 days of the crop being cut from their fields.Millers, however, had defaulted on payments even two months after the crop was cut and cane crushing had begun. SSS too draws its support from farmers, who are their vote bank. Farmers were in agitation mode, when last week the millers deposited 80% of the total FRP (Rs 2300 per tonne) in their accounts.Angry farmers had set offices of some mills on fire in Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts..