Farmers seeking a hike in sugarcane prices called off their agitation after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh assured them of Rs 360 per quintal for it on Tuesday.
Sugarcane farmers withdrew their agitation on Tuesday after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced a hike of Rs 35 per quintal in the state agreed price (SAP) for cane crushing season 2021-22.
This takes the SAP to Rs 360 per quintal, which is Rs 2 higher than in neighbouring Haryana.
The decision was taken after Captain Amarinder Singh met farmer leaders over sugarcane prices and the clearance of pending dues, as the agitation over the issues entered its fifth day on Tuesday, impacting rail services and road traffic.
Captain Amarinder Singh said the state’s fiscal situation had prevented an adequate increase in SAP for the past three to four years. The farmer union leaders had pointed out earlier that Punjab had failed to hike sugarcane SAP in proportion to Haryana over this period, causing fiscal losses.
The chief minister said the farmers were not to blame for the problem, which was caused by Punjab’s poor finances.
CM Amarinder Singh said the state’s fiscal crisis had prevented him from increasing SAP earlier. He added that balancing the needs of the farmers with those of the cooperative and private sugar mill owners was tough, given the prevailing fiscal situation.
Rana Gurjit Singh, who is himself a sugar mill owner besides being Congress MLA in Punjab, supported the farmers’ demand for an increase in SAP.
The farmer union leaders, representing the Sanjha Kisan Morcha which has been spearheading the sugarcane farmers’ agitation for the past several days, thanked the chief minister for addressing their concerns.
Punjab kisan unions and farmers are thankful to @capt_amarinder @PunjabGovtIndia for the hike in sugarcane rate from 310 rps to 360 rps per quintal.
— Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) August 24, 2021
It's a big win for us farmers and for Punjab, it's the unity of us that got us the victory. pic.twitter.com/8H8ig8dJKy
