Raju Shetti Demands ₹4,500 Per Tonne in 185-km Rally
Raju Shetti leads a motorcycle rally in Kolhapur, urging sugar mills to raise initial cane payment to ₹4,500 per tonne.
Raju Shetti led a 185-km bike rally demanding higher sugarcane prices.
The proposed initial payment is ₹4,500 per tonne, with an additional ₹500 from mills.
Shetti set a four-day deadline for mills and administration to agree on payment terms.
In a significant push for better compensation, Raju Shetti, the president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, spearheaded a motorcycle rally covering 185 kilometers across five talukas in Kolhapur district on Sunday. The rally aimed to advocate for an initial sugarcane payment of ₹4,500 per tonne, highlighting the need for sugar mills to offer fair remuneration to farmers amid favorable market conditions.
The rally began in Hatkanangale taluka and traversed various villages, culminating in a public meeting at Kasba Sangaon in Kagal taluka. Hundreds of sugarcane growers participated, voicing their support for Shetti's demands. A central message of the rally was the necessity for farmers to secure clarity on procurement prices before allowing sugar mills to commence harvesting operations.
During the concluding meeting, Shetti emphasized that farmers should not permit mills to start operations without a clear agreement on prices. He issued a four-day ultimatum to sugar mills and local authorities to reach a consensus on payment terms for the upcoming season, asserting that the prices must reflect the costs incurred by farmers in cultivating sugarcane.
The rally also addressed concerns regarding competition from neighboring Karnataka's sugar mills. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had previously warned that delays in crushing operations at Maharashtra's border mills could lead to Karnataka mills attracting local growers. However, Shetti countered this by noting the presence of farmer representatives from Karnataka at the rally, who expressed solidarity against their mills starting crushing operations.
As the crushing season approaches, Shetti's four-day deadline places pressure on negotiations between sugar mill owners, farmer organizations, and state officials regarding fair pricing for sugarcane. The outcome of these discussions will be crucial for the financial stability of farmers in Maharashtra as they prepare for the upcoming season.
