Punjab farmers get `360/quintal cane price, to call off stir

1 cmChandigarh: Farmers demanding a hike in sugarcane prices on Tuesday announced to end their agitation after Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh assured them of `360 per quintal for it. Under the farmers' agitation, which entered its fifth day on Tuesday, the protesters had blocked a national highway and Ludhiana-Amritsar and Ludhiana-Jammu rail tracks in Jalandhar. “Happy to share that after consultation with farmers, have approved SAP for sugarcane at `360 per quintal.” Mr Singh said.

Chandigarh, Aug. 24: Farmers seeking a hike in sugarcane prices called off their agitation after Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh assured them of `360 per quintal for it on Tuesday.

The CM announced a hike of `35 per quintal in the state assured price (SAP) of sugarcane after a meeting with farmer leaders here.

Farmers had blocked a national highway and rail tracks in Jalandhar, saying the recent hike announced by the state government was inadequate as their production cost had spiralled considerably.

Their demand had also got the backing of state Congress chief Navjot

Singh Sidhu, who demanded better prices for Punjab farmers.

The farmers’ stir had entered fifth day on Tuesday.

According to an official spokesperson, agreeing to the demand for a hike in cane pries, the CM said Punjab's fiscal situation had prevented adequate increase in the state advised price for the past three to four years.

The CM said that farmers were not to blame for the problem, which was caused by Punjab’s poor finances, the spokesperson added. According to the official, the CM said he was always with farmers and wanted to do his best for their welfare but the state's fiscal crisis had prevented him from increasing SAP earlier.

Balancing the needs of farmers with those of the cooperative and private sugar mill owners was tough, given the prevailing fiscal situation, said the CM.

After a meeting with the chief minister, farmer leader Manjit Singh Rai told reporters that the CM agreed to increase cane prices.

He said that they were told that their pending arrears will be paid in 15 days. Mr Rai said that they had also told farmers in Jalandhar to lift the blockade. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal declared the increase in cane prices by the state government as a “big victory” for farmers.

Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa thanked the Amarinder Singh-led government for being proactive and taking this “revolutionary step” of hiking SAP for sugarcane. “Sugarcane farmers in Punjab now receive the highest SAP across the nation. Cane growers in Punjab will now earn an additional `300 crore,” he said.