Jalandhar, Punjab: Sugarcane farmers continued their agitation on the third day after the Punjab government failed to resolve their demand of increasing state assured price (SAP) for sugarcane.
The talks between Cabinet Minister, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and sugarcane farmers remained inconclusive and the farmers decided to continue their agitation which they have launched on Friday.
The farmers are demanding a hike in SAP equivalent to that of Haryana where SAP for cane is Rs 358 per quintal. The government has already increased cane price by Rs 15 per quintal which farmers have rejected.
Several organisations fighting for farmers’ rights have participated in the agitation that began on August 20.
Several trains of the Northern Railway on Saturday were running behind schedule as famers seeking a hike in sugarcane prices blocked rail tracks. Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest, several Northern Railway trains were delayed or diverted causing aggravation among passengers. A total of 50 trains were cancelled while 18 were diverted and 36 short terminated, according to the Ferozepur railway division officials.
The state government has increased the SAP for sugarcane of early variety to Rs 325, mid-variety to Rs 315 and late variety to Rs 310 per quintal. The farmers claim due to a hike in input costs they are unable to make profit.
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