Osmanabad: Sixty sugarcane farmers in Osmanabad are extremely distressed at the fair remuneration price decided by the government and the agents working on behalf of the sugar mills. With their patience wearing thin, these farmers have informed the Osmanabad district officials of their decision to burn their crop.
They have even sent an invitation to these officials asking them to witness the spectacle. They feel, it is better to burn the entire produce, rather than accept the meagre FRP. The FRP is given by the sugar mills which is decided by the government. Right now, the FRP for sugarcane is Rs 2,900 per tonne, which they claim are not getting just Rs 2,300 per tonne.These farmers have accused the sugar mills of cheating them.
“These mills have agents who are demanding Rs 6,000 per acre to crush the sugar cane,” lamented a farmer. He alleged, “If that were not enough, the agents further demand Rs 500 every time the sugar cane is transported from the farm to the mill.” Moreover, farmers have accused sugar mill officials of not accepting the produce directly from them. “In fact, sugar mill directors are asking farmers to approach them only through agents,” alleged a farmer.
