KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Talks between the government and sugarcane farmers on Friday at Singha Durbar ended without any consensus, according to Umesh Chandra Yadav, spokesperson for the Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee.
During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari requested the farmers to halt their protest programs temporarily. The committee, however, responded that the movement would continue, although they were open to altering its form.
Farmers demanding payment of sugarcane stop sugar exports
The farmers demanded a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal. Yadav alleged that although the Ministry of Agriculture had earmarked Rs 2 billion in its annual budget for sugarcane farmer subsidies, the Ministry of Finance blocked the release.
Yadav said the committee would hold a press conference at Maitighar at 11 am on Saturday to outline the next steps of their protest. He added that while Rs 750 million had already been disbursed to farmers, another Rs 750 million must be released before Dashain as a bottom-line requirement.
