Bhartiya Kisan Sangh demands one time pay of Fair Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane farmers in MH

Viewing to eliminate the critical economic crisis faced by the sugarcane farmers in the state of Maharashtra, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh on Wednesday has demanded one time payment of fair remunerative price for farmers of Maharashtra. The organisation has also called for a DHARANA protest on September 30 at Office of Regional Sugarcane Commissioner, Sakhar Sankul, Shivajinagar, Pune.

 

 

"Sugarcane is a prominant cash crop of Maharashtra. In 2019-20, sugarcane cultivation was spread across 7.76 lac hectares of 19 districts of Maharashtra. It contributes 20% of the irrigated land of state. Maharashtra has 195 sugar mills. About 1.5 crore farmers are solely dependent on sugarcane based economy. But, policies of central and state govts, export policy, policies favouring sugarcane mill owners, increased cost of cultivation has lead to sever crisis in sugarcane industry", the official statement read.

 

 

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh also demanded that govt should formulate a policy which considers all three stake holders- farmers, sugarcane indistry and consumer. "The security cover for farmers is at the risk. Central govt has ammended the Sugarcane Price Regulatory Act 1966 on 22nd October 2009, where it replaced the tradiional Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) by Season Based Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) which is based on the profit over production cost. The central govt has authority to decide the FRP with recommandation from Commission For Agricultural Cost and Price (CACP). To pay price below FRP can attract penal action. Also, state govt can offer higher price than the FRP", it added.

 

"Central govt has offered FRP at the rate of Rs 290 per quintal. Central govt should increase this FRP. Also, on the lines of Harayana and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 350-370), Maharashtra govt should also offer a State Advisory Price SAP of Rs 400 by considering the increased cultivation costs and reducing productivity. The state govt has power to offer State Advisory Price. Why Maharashtra govt did not offer SAP so far? This is raising doubts on the intentions of state govt. And State govt should be answerable to farmers".

 

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh is a non political organisation operated by farmers and is working for betterment of farmers. BKS, since it's inception is working on a theme of Organising, Structurising farm activities and Raising Voice for farmers.

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