Impasse over extra cane payment continues as farmers refuse to allow harvesting

Shetti and his farm union are firm on their demand for the payment of Rs 400 per tonne over the government-declared Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for cane purchased during the 2022-23 season before the new season. Shetti has made the payment as a prerequisite condition before allowing the mills to start for the present season.

However, millers have expressed their inability to pay the amount, which has caused the stalemate.

On Thursday, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana leader and former MP Raju Shetti met with mill owners from Kolhapur and Sangli at the district collector’s office in Kolhapur.

While speaking to the media on Thursday, Shetti claimed that mills in Sangli and Kolhapur owe farmers Rs 1,200 crore as extra payment. “Last season, the mills had agreed to pay extra and we will not allow them to start the present season till the last season’s dues are met,” he said.

On their part, mill owners have said they would not be able to pay the amount. “The last two years might have been good for the industry but overall we still have to repay old loans and debts,” said a miller from Sangli.

“For us, paucity of cane is a major concern this season. Mills in Karnataka have already started and they would start poaching cane from our area. A quick resolution is a must for the season to resume,” said the miller.

Shetti has called for the annual Oosh Parishad (Cane Conclave) at Jaysingpur on November 7 where he would voice his demand for the present season. Until then, most farmers in the region are in a wait-and-watch mood.

The two-time former MP had even started a padyatra to visit all the sugar mills which are yet to pay the extra Rs 400/tonne. The padyatra was called off on Monday in support of the ongoing fast of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil in Jalna.