Farmer leader accuses Shivakumar of scaring sugarcane farmers

Farmer leader Kurubur Shantakumar has accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of scaremongering over sugar factories, saying it is unacceptable to claim that factories will shut down if they agree to farmers’ demands for higher prices for sugarcane.

He made the statement while addressing protesting farmers in Yerikoppa near Dharwad on Sunday. Shantakumar said the Union and State governments should not take the farmers movement lightly. He also said they should desist from politicising the issues of a hike in prices of sugar or sugarcane.

Shantakumar met those participating in the Hubballi Chalo padayatra and expressed support for their agitation. He said he supported the farmers’ demands because they were just and fair.

Demands on sugar pricing

On sugar pricing, Shantakumar said the Union government should allow differential pricing of sugar. “The Union government should allow differential pricing of sugar.” “It should also strictly enforce the Sugar Control Order of 1966 which mandates that factories should share profits with farmers obtained from selling various byproducts of sugar.”

He said the Centre should increase the fair and remunerative price, or FRP, for sugarcane by at least ₹4,500 per tonne with a sugar recovery of 10.25%. He also said the State government should redistribute its tax gains to farmers by paying ₹800 per tonne of sugarcane, on the lines of the Tamil Nadu government.

The demands seek changes in both the price paid for sugarcane and the way profits from sugar production are shared with farmers. Shantakumar’s remarks therefore covered the role of the Union government in pricing and the responsibility of the State government in distributing its tax gains to farmers.

Drought relief and loan recovery

Shantakumar sought immediate drought relief for all farmers who suffered crop loss. He said the State government should waive all farm loans. He also demanded that it stop forced loan recovery by private banks and agencies.

He separately raised the issue of micro finance institutions that give loans to self-help groups. He said some of these institutions were forcing women to repay loans and were forcing them to sell their jewellery or property.

“Strict legal action should be taken to stop the recovery of such loans for the next two years,” he said. The demand extends the farmers’ concerns beyond sugarcane prices to the recovery of loans from women linked to self-help groups.

Shantakumar also called on all Ministers and legislators to give up their salary and wages to pay at least ₹25,000 per acre as compensation to drought-hit farmers. His demands thus included higher sugarcane returns, a share in sugar factories’ byproduct profits, drought relief, farm-loan waivers and restrictions on loan recovery.

Source: The Hindu