"We are preparing to begin protest program again after sugar mills offered to pay just Rs 400 for each quintal of sugarcane, in a clear violation of the agreement," said Jaya Nath Yadav, president of Rauthat chapter of the Federation of Sugarcane Farmers´ Association (FSFA).[break]
Condemning the act of sugar mills, Yadav said that sugar mills were trying to exploit farmers by offering low price for sugarcane.
Earlier, sugarcane farmers had withdrawn their protest programs after sugar mills agreed to purchase sugarcane at Rs 481 per quintal.
"We will launch series of protest if the sugar mills do not comply with conditions of the agreement," Yadav said. "We cannot reduce the price, as we have to pay heavy interest on loans that we have obtained to plant sugarcane."
Krishna Chaudhari, a local farmer of Garuda, said he had planted sugarcane on 3.39 hectares of land by obtaining credit from landlords. "Now I´m not even in a position to pay back the interest amount, forget the principal."
Farmers have complained that sugar mill owners´ irresponsibility has put them in a vulnerable position. "Sugar mill owners are not concerned about farmers´ financial position," Yadav said. "Its effects can now be seen on families of sugarcane farmers."
Dinesh Mishra, a local from Khairwa, Rauthat, said he has not been able to pay back the loan that he obtained for his son´s wedding.
"I would have been able to manage my financial affairs had sugar mills provided previously agreed price," Mishra said, adding, his family entirely relies on sugarcane farming for survival. "There are many farmers who are facing the same problem," Mishra said with tears in his eyes.
However, Nanda Kishor Gupta, a manager of Shree Ram Sugar Mills, said that the copy of the agreement reached between farmers and owners of the sugar mills was not available to them.
"We have not made any revision to the rate as we have not been told about the new price," Gupta said.
Meanwhile, Dibakar Golchha, a promoter of the Shree Ram Sugar Mills, said that sugar mills would soon start making payments to farmers based on new rate. "We will soon send the copy of the agreement to the mills and ensure sugarcanes are purchased as per the revised price," Golchha said.
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