Sugarcane harvesting halted on Day 1 of stir call by farmers’ body

Shetti said on Thursday, “This is the first time that the farmers have also raised the issue of ethanol price, which is usually being raised by the mills only… We hope the government will accede to our demands.”

The union members on Day One of the stoppage call also halted the transport of cane to a few mills in Sangli district, and the Rajarambapu Patil Cooperative Sugar Mill — managed by the family of senior NCP leader Jayant Patil — in Sangli’s Walwa taluka.

Earlier this month, Shetti had led a massive rally of cane growers to the office of the Sugar Commissioner in Pune. One-time payment of FRP, increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar, and increase in price of ethanol were some of the demands the Sanghatana have placed before the commissioner. Back then, Shetti had announced that they would force mills to suspend operations in case their demands are not met, with consequently calling for a suspension of harvesting on November 17 and 18. Accordingly, the members of the farmers’ union had approached the mills, asking them to stop sugarcane harvest for two days.