Hike SMP for cane: Farmers

The SMP for the year is same as that was decided last year, he said adding,”the government has not considered the increase in diesel and fertiliser prices while deciding SMP. The government is working in favour of the sugar mills and ignoring the farmers.”

The sugarcane production is estimated to be less this season, he said, point out that the sugar mills will have to pay the SMP sought by farmers or the agitation launched last year would be intensified this year.

The Pune Zilla Shetkari Sanghatana threatened not to allow the operations of sugar mills in the coming crushing season if the government fails to increase the SMP for sugarcane.

Sanghatana president Shiajirao Nandkhile urged the Maharashtra Sugar Mill Federation to justify their acceptance of SMP by giving details of calculating the production cost within 15 days.

The government should accept the supplementary report of the Agriculture Price Commission on revision of SMP for various agriculture produce, he said adding, “The interest of the farmers should be given priority instead of making politics out of it.” On the possibility of sugar mills in the state getting sugarcane from neighbouring state, Nandkhile said the sanghatana would intensify its agitation and would not allow sugarcane from other states.

The agitation of farmers had turned violent last year with the farmers burning their crops in protest.