Pune (Maharashtra): Farmer leader and former Member of Parliament, Raju Shetti, has announced an 522-kilometer padayatra in Western Maharashtra, scheduled to take place from October 17 to November 7, reported Indian Express.
The padayatra aims to draw attention to the various issues of sugarcane farmers and advocate for the timely payment of dues to these farmers residing in the Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara districts.
Addressing reporters, the President of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), Raju Shetti, asserted, “For the 2022-2023 season, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane stood at Rs 3,050 per tonne. While most mills adhered to this rate, they neglected the additional Rs 400 per tonne payment to farmers in the second installment.”
Shetti acknowledged that sugar mills in Pune promptly made the additional payments; however, mills in Sangli and Kolhapur failed to do so. He affirmed, “Our focus will be on all sugar mills that have neglected to provide the additional Rs 400 per tonne above the FRP to cane growers. These mills, which reap substantial profits, need to share a portion of their gains with sugarcane farmers.”
