Shivakumar told not to engage in scaring sugarcane farmers

By saying that sugar factories will shut down if they agree to the demands by farmers to pay higher prices for sugarcane, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is engaging in scaremongering. This is unacceptable, farmers leader Kurubur Shantakumar said on Sunday.

The Union and State governments should not take farmers movement lightly. They should also desist from politicising the issues of hike in prices of sugar or sugarcane, he said, while addressing protesting farmers in Yerikoppa near Dharwad.

He met those participating in the Hubballi Chalo padayatra and expressed support to their agitation.

He said that he supported the demands of farmers as they are just and fair.

“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. The Centre should increase the FRP for sugarcane by at least ₹4,500 per tonne with a sugar recovery of 10.25%,” he said.

Also, 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, he said.

He sought immediate drought relief for all farmers who suffered crop loss. The State government should waive all farm loans. It should stop forced loan recovery by private banks and agencies, he said.

“Some micro finance institutions that give loans to self-help groups are forcing women to repay loans. They are 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.

He gave a call to 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.