Kolhapur: Raju Shetti, the founder of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, has demanded a single instalment payment of Rs 3,700 per tonne for sugarcane to be supplied to sugar mills in the Kolhapur district. The sugarcane crushing season, will begin on November 15, 2024.
For the past 23 years, Shetti has organized an annual gathering of sugarcane farmers from Kolhapur and Sangli at Jaysingpur to present their price demands and seek approval from those in attendance. “Considering the current revenue generated by sugar mills, they should pay farmers Rs 3,700 per tonne. A mill in Pandharpur with lower sugar recovery has set a price of Rs 3,500 per tonne, so mills in the Kolhapur district should have no issue paying Rs 3,700 per tonne,” Shetti stated.
In addition, Shetti demanded an extra Rs 200 per tonne for the previous season’s sugarcane, citing the stable sugar prices that led to increased mill profits.
