Ryots to lay siege to DC's office in Mysore

Speaking at a press meet in Chamarajanagar on Sunday, State Sugar Cane Growers Association president Kurubur Shanthakumar urged that the sugar price for the year 2010-11 should be announced immediately and the pending amount of the farmers disbursed. He also demanded that the bi-lateral agreement of the same should be implemented from this year, along with SAP Act for fixing rate for cane.

He pointed out that the Bannari and Mahadeshwara Sugar factories have disbursed Rs 1,800 per tonne for the farmers who supplied sugar cane. As the expenses for the agricultural activities including harvesting process have raised, the farmers are incurring huge losses, he said.

He flayed the sugar factories for delaying to fix the price and informed that the association has decided to lay siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysore on June 27.

The yield of sugar cane has decreased and he attributed it for encroaching agricultural lands and utilising it for industrial purposes. This is one of the reason for dwindling agricultural produce in the state. A protest would be held in the near future demanding to identify agricultural zone, he said.

He demanded fixation of Rs 2,500 per tonne of sugar cane. The rate should be fixed taking into account the price of sugar, quantity of yield, profit through by-products and others.

Meanwhile, the sugar factories had given written statements assuring to disburse balance amount after the cane price is fixed. But even after the cane crushing process has come to an end the government is yet to fix the price, he lamented.

The turmeric growers too are under trouble, he said and added that the government should come forward to fix support price for turmeric. Stern action should be taken on those who are involved in black marketing of fertilisers, he stressed.