Meerut/Baghpat: Chaudhary Naresh Tikait, National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), called on the government to announce the sugarcane price before the new crushing season begins next month. Speaking at a private event in Baghpat, Tikait urged the government to set the sugarcane price at ₹500 per quintal this year, reports Navbharat Times.
He also reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his 2014 promise to set the price at ₹450 per quintal, which has yet to be fulfilled. Tikait emphasized that, with 2024 approaching, the price should be increased.
Addressing the gathering, Tikait criticized the government for neglecting farmers’ issues, stating, “The government ignores farmers on every issue, forcing them to protest.” He warned that once again, the government is pushing farmers towards another protest.
Tikait said that whatever crops they produce, they do not get good returns for them, while all the major inputs like electricity, fertilizers, water, fuel, and other raw materials have increased in price. He underlined that these costly resources have to be purchased by the farmers to raise their crops.
That is why Tikait said in a tone of disappointment: “When farmers protest for their rights, the government labels them terrorists or separatists. This is wrong.” At the fag end, he reiterated the demand to fix the price of sugarcane by the government at ₹500 per quintal, cautioning that lesser prices than these would lead to losses for the farmers.
