Relief demanded for sugarcane growers: KBP warns government of launching protest drive

Kissan Board of Pakistan (KBP) has warned the government of launching a strong protest drive if sugarcane growers are not provided immediate relief from what it called injustices by the sugar millers of the province. 'Crushing season has already been delayed by two months and growers are running from pillar to post to sell their produce and get government announced rate. They even have not been paid of their last year's sale,' claimed KBP President Chaudhry Nisar Ahmad while talking to a group of sugarcane growers here on Thursday.
He called upon the government to directly buy sugarcane from the growers so as to save them from the cruel sugar miller mafia. The KBP President claimed that 70 percent growers had reduced their area under sugarcane cultivation just because of the attitude of the sugar millers and apathy of the government towards the plight of the farmers. He said availability of sufficient water for agriculture was another factor in drastic decrease in sugarcane cultivation. It may lead to a severe crisis in the future, he added.
He claimed that farmers are paid due compensation of their hard labour in other countries of the world but in Pakistan situation is in total contrast. They are paid lower than the government announced support price and in majority of the cases payments are delayed for many months. He alleged that price of sugarcane had been announced at Rs 180 per maund but no mill was paying this to the growers. Ch Nisar further said that big capitalists, sugar millers present in treasury and opposition benches join hands with each other and buy sugarcane at throw away prices. He said ignorant attitude of the rulers towards agriculture was disappointing.
He urged the government to take immediate steps for resolving the hardships being faced by the growers. He also expressed sorrow that the Chief Minister Punjab's promises to bring out revolutionary reforms in the agriculture sector had proved hollow slogans.