Date:23/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/23/stories/2007122355310700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Sugarcane farmers want better price

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: District Collector Navin Mittal on Saturday advised sugarcane farmers and the management of Vuyyuru Sugar Factory to hold talks and arrive at a mutually acceptable price.

Mr. Mittal held discussions with the farmers and the management on the sugarcane support price at a meeting held at the Sub-Collector’s office here.

He said that the KCP management should conduct talks and offer a price that would not cause any loss to the farmers concerned.

As of now, the farmers are getting Rs. 1,140 support price per tonne for sugarcane while their demand is for Rs. 1,200.

However, Mr. Mittal said that from the Government’s side, some steps would be initiated to contain the losses to the farmers.

He promised to talk to the management and also the farmers once again soon.

The farmers’ leaders said that they would have to go on the path of agitation if the management did not offer a good price.

Local MLA K.P. Parthasarathy and other leaders spoke.

KCP General Manager G. Venkateswara Rao said that it would not be possible to meet the farmers’ demand as the factory was incurring losses .

Sugarcane farmers from Vuyyuru area, sugarcane adviser Seetaramaiah and others were present.