Jalandhar: Tired of awaiting cane arrears, farmers are threatening to stop cane farming and shift to traditional paddy and wheat cultivation.
Gurpreet Atwal, a Bhogpur-based sugarcane farmer said, “We expected better returns after we shifted from wheat and paddy cultivation to cane cultivation. But we have to fight for our pending arrears and we may soon give up cane farming.”
Gurpreet is yet to get arrears from last two years. He said we have no alternative left other than quitting sugarcane farming. Hundreds of farmers from the region have the same plight.
Dharminder Singh, a farmer based in Kala Bakra village was growing 10,000 quintals of sugarcane and his pending dues are over Rs 4 lakh. Now he has decided to reduce cane cultivation to a minimal level.
The farmers have alleged that the promises made by Captain Amrinder government for the welfare of farmers have failed.
The farmers from Adampur and Kartarpur constituencies led by MLA Pawan Tinu have demanded the clearing of cane arrears immediately and implementation of the Sugar Control Board Act, 1961. They have threatened to launch an agitation if their dues are not cleared till February 19.
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