Sai Prasad Mahendrakar, Kolhapur: Taking an aggressive stand on the issue of sugarcane price, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana founder Raju Shetty has firmly demanded that the factories pay Rs 3,751 per tonne this season and an additional Rs 200 for broken cane in the previous season. He warned that if this demand is not accepted, he will not let the smokestacks of the sugar factories burn. He clarified in the meeting that this battle will be decisive for the farmers of Kolhapur, Sangli and the Karnataka border areas.

No solution in the District Collector's meeting; Tensions increase
Shetty, along with leaders of farmer organizations, representatives of sugar factories, regional sugar joint directors and officials of the Sugar Commissioner's office, were present in the sugarcane price meeting held under the chairmanship of District Collector Amol Yedge on Monday. Despite the administration's mediation, no solution could be reached between the farmer organizations and the factories. The farmers are unhappy due to the failure to fix the correct FRP rate. Against this backdrop, Raju Shetty warned that if the factories act arbitrarily, legal action will be taken and the ongoing factories will be shut down and the agitation will be intensified.

Allegations of underreporting of FRP
According to the organization, many have ignored it even though it is mandatory for the factories to implement the revenue sharing formula suggested by the Rangarajan Committee. Shetty alleged that the FRP was artificially understated by not submitting annual reports and by showing harvesting and transportation costs of Rs 950 to 1100. In reality, this cost is limited to Rs 750. He stated that due to this fraud, farmers have to bear a loss of Rs 300 to 350 per ton of sugarcane.

Demand for action against factories violating the law
Shetty alleged that the Bidri and Bhogavati factories in the district have ignored the orders of the Bombay High Court by declaring the first harvest lower than the FRP. Since this is a violation of the law, he warned of launching a strong agitation against the factories concerned.

Will ask Chief Minister Fadnavis for an answer..
Raju Shetty has announced his role in asking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister, who will visit Kolhapur on November 5, to answer the decision on sugarcane price. The organization has also warned that if a concrete decision on a suitable price for farmers is not taken by November 10, sugar factories will stop sugarcane transportation and stop production.

Meanwhile, a movement to stop sugarcane transportation has also started in the Belgaum-Bagalkot area of ​​Karnataka, and this step is likely to have a major impact on this year's crushing season. The movement of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana is now spreading not only to the state but also to the border areas, and Shetty once again expressed his determination to intensify the struggle until a suitable price is obtained.