BJP demands State take 70% of responsibility for sugarcane farmers

BJP leader Aminappagouda S. Patil Nadahalli told reporters in Vijayapura on Thursday that the Congress government in the State is playing politics over the agitation by sugarcane growers instead of addressing their pressing concerns, and that the State should shoulder 70% of the responsibility for ensuring fair prices for farmers.

He said farmers are facing serious problems concerning sugarcane recovery rates, discrepancies in weighing practices and harvesting, and that the Centre held detailed discussions with farmers for four to five hours and decided to constitute a committee to examine their various demands. He urged the State to act immediately and the BJP will support the growers in their struggle.

The BJP leader added that the Centre is taking steps to address all concerns of the sugarcane growers by promoting the production of value‑added products from sugarcane, including ethanol, and that a lasting solution should be evolved by taking into account the interests of growers, consumers and the sugar industry, along with prevailing international market conditions, so farmers need not repeatedly protest.

Read the full story at The Hindu.