Karnataka - Mysore

Sugarcane growers plan ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’

MYSORE: Sugarcane growers in the State have planned a “Raj Bhavan Chalo” on October 29 to bring pressure to bear on the Government to announce a scientific price for purchase of sugarcane by sugar mills for 2007-08.

This was decided at a meeting of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association in Mysore recently.

According to association president Kurubur Shanthakumar, growers from different parts of the State will arrive at the Bangalore City Railway Station at 11 a.m. on October 29 before taking out a rally to the Raj Bhavan.

The farmers, who were unhappy with the “paltry purchase price” last year, have launched an agitation to press for a scientific price, based on the costs incurred by the growers for the produce this year. “We want the Government to take the cost incurred by farmers into consideration before fixing the purchase price,” Mr. Shanthakumar said in a statement.

Sugar mills such as Bannari Amman and Mahadeshwara have not cleared farmers’ dues of 2006 and they should pay interest along with the old purchase price at the time of clearing the dues.

Also, the sugar mills should reimburse to the farmers the benefit they accrued on account of the Government’s waiver of purchase tax. The waived amount should be added to the purchase price at the time of payment of dues, the association said.

The Government should pay Rs. 25,000 an acre compensation to sugarcane farmers whose produce was not bought by sugar mills. The amount should be released immediately, he said.

Mr. Shanthakumar said the Government should provide farmers with a subsidy of Rs. 300 per tonne towards transportation of sugarcane.

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