Pawar responsible for farmers' losses: Haque

Pune, Sep 29 (UNI) Former Chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) T Haque, today blamed Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the loss incurred by farmers due to the steady statutory minimum price (SMP) for the last four years.

Mr Haque, who is now a member of the National Alliance of Farmers' Associations (NAFA), said farmers from across the country will organise a protest rally before Parliament on October 22 to press for their demands.

He said sugar mills will not be allowed to operate until the SMP for sugarcane was hiked and demanded that the SMP should be over Rs 200 per quintal.

Speaking to newspersons here this evening, Mr Haque questioned why SMP for sugarcane farmers remained unchanged while SMP for other crops have been hiked. He alleged that Mr Pawar had neglected sugarcane farmers interests in the country.

The representatives of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, led by MLA Raju Shetty, were also present.

UNI SP SR RSA KP2212