KSGA urges govt to implement SAP for sugarcane

Mysore, Jun 21: Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association (KSGA) today urged the state government to implement State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane for the current year.

Speaking to mediapersons, Association President Kurabur Shantakumar said the Association also demanded that all the sugar companies in the state should install electronic weighing machines for the coming season, from next month. It also urged the various sugar companies to settle the balance subsidy amount of Rs 160 per tonne as announced by the state government.

Stating that the Centre's decision, as per the direction of Agriculture Commission, to fix the price at Rs 850 per quintal of paddy was not sufficent, he said it should fix the price at Rs 1,050 per quintal.

He alleged that the state government had failed to stop farmers' suicides due to the non-availability of fertilizers and seeds in time. It would launch a state-wide agitation against the government if it fails to take steps to supply sufficient quantity of fertilizers and seeds to the farmers, he warned.

A state-level meeting of farmers would be convened on June 24 at Bangalore, in which various problems would be discussed. Former Agricultural Price Fixation Commission Chairman T Haq and National Farmers Federation General Secretary Changal Reddy and others were expected to attend the meeting.

UNI