Farmers Movement Archive

No consensus on input cost, panel to meet Punjab farmers

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, August 22As the meeting with the state government on demands regarding the state agreed price (SAP) for sugarcane remained inconclusive, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today announced continuation of the blockade of the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway and rail tracks here.Balwinder Singh Raju, President, Majha Kisan Sangharsh CommitteeGovt figure too lowOnce there is a consensus on cost of production, talks can move further. Government's Rs350 figure is too low. Things will be clearer after meeting with experts.With the government and farmers failing to arrive at a consensus over the cost of production of sugarcane despite a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the farmers decided to continue with the agitation and intensify it, if need be.An 11-member SKM delegation met Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as well as Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh in Chandigarh along with a panel of agricultural experts and bureaucrats.An expert panel will now meet the farmers in Jalandhar again on Monday to hold deliberations. Meanwhile, farmers also anticipate a meeting with the Chief Minister on Tuesday, failing which they will hold a protest at toll plazas in the state. While farmers have pegged the cost of production of sugarcane at Rs 392.50, the government puts it at Rs 350 per quintal.Manjit Singh Rai, president, Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba), said: “We have made it clear we can’t settle for a rate below our input cost. While we haven’t been able to arrive at a consensus on the issue at the meeting today, deliberations will continue tomorrow.” Meanwhile, farmers stayed put at the Jalandhar dharna site, which is slowly emerging into a Singhu-like protest.The highway and rail blockade at Jalandhar continued as usual. In view of the Rakhi today, the service lanes were opened for passage of vehicles. “We opened the service lanes but these will be closed on Monday. Only schoolchildren and emergency vehicles will be given passage,” a union leader said.Both sides differWhile farmers have pegged production cost of sugarcane at Rs392.50, the government puts it at Rs350/quintal

The Tribune

2021-08-23