Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has suspended its plan to organise a statewide chakka jam on Thursday to seek a higher price for sugarcane in view of an increase of Rs 10 per quintal announced by private sugar mills.

Singh, however, said the option for agitation was still open as farmers were still not happy with the price offered by private sugar mills. He added that the farmers’ agitation will continue at places where private sugar mills had refused to increase the price.

Singh said sugar mills had announced an incentive of Rs 25 per quintal for farmers over and above the state advisory price of Rs 165-170 per quintal, announced by the state government. On November 9, they had offered to pay an incentive of Rs 15 per quintal only. The RLD chief said he was confident that private sugar mills will further hike the incentive in view of acute shortage of cane. The RLD had demanded a cane price of Rs 280 per quintal.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary for Sugarcane, Netram, said that as many as 77 sugar mills had commenced cane crushing. This figure includes 60 mills in the private sector, 14 in cooperative and three mills in the public sector, he added.