Sangli: Farmers affiliated with the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana have launched a sit-in protest outside the Rajarambapu Cooperative Sugar Mill in Walva taluka, Sangli district, demanding additional payment for sugarcane purchased from them last season, reported The Indian Express.
The farmers’ primary demand is for the mill to disburse an additional Rs 100 per tonne above the government-declared Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for the cane supplied by them.
In a symbolic act of protest on Friday morning, Sanghatana members mounted the mill’s cane feed belt to register their protest. Raju Shetti personally joined the demonstration, leading a sit-in along with his supporters.
A few weeks ago, mills in Kolhapur agreed to Shetti’s demand, resulting in the Sanghatana permitting the resumption of cane-crushing operations in the district.
Following an agreed formula between the farm union and mills, farmers are entitled to receive Rs 50-100 for each tonne of cane crushed in the previous year. However, mills in Sangli have resisted this payment, prompting the ongoing agitation.
