Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab farmers to insist on Rs 400 per quintal SAP for surgarcane

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, August 23Protesting farmers under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will meet Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday to decide the final rate of the state advised price (SAP) for surgarcane.The decision was taken after a marathon meeting of SKM leaders with agricultural experts and bureaucrats here.The dharna on the Jalandhar highway would continue, and both highway and railway tracks would remain blocked. However, the “Punjab bandh” call given for Tuesday had been postponed in view of the meeting with the CM.As farm groups led by 13 leaders met the state Cane Commissioner, state Agricultural Director and Chief Agricultural Officer here today, they pegged the cost of production of sugarcane at Rs 470 per quintal. But, the farmers said they would seek SAP of Rs 400 per quintal from the government.Amarinder to announce rateOur demand for SAP remains Rs 400. As we have been asked to meet the CM on Tuesday, the final rate will be announced by him. — Manjit Singh Rai, President, BKU (doaba)This is the second meeting farmers have had with the state government panel ever since the protest at the Jalandhar highway began last week. The first meeting yesterday remained inconclusive.Manjit Singh Rai, president, Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba), speaking after a two-hour meeting, said: “We have pegged the cost of production at Rs 470 per quintal and have been successful in convincing the panel of this rate. But our demand for SAP remains Rs 400. As we have been asked to meet the CM at 3 pm tomorrow (Tuesday), the final rate will be announced by him.”Rai said: “The next call on bandh would be taken after tomorrow’s meeting. The service lanes will be opened only for students and emergency vehicles such ambulances and fire brigade. The rest of the dharna will stay put until our demands are met.”Speaking on the cost of production of Rs 392.50 pegged by farmers yesterday, Rai said: “We had cited it as per the UP rates, but after detailed analysis, the cost incurred by us came out to Rs 470.50. Based on this, we have revised the cost of production and convinced the panel.”Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said: “Apart from input cost, there has been a considerable difference between our and government rates. We have cited the input cost on the basis of ground reality and the actual cost being incurred by farmers.”

The Tribune

2021-08-24