Sugar factories take positive step towards cane prices

Kolhapur, Nov 9 (UNI) The combined agitation launched by farmers organisations in Western Maharashtra, to raise sugarcane prices by sugar factories, has borne fruits with at least 14 sugar factories in the district agreeing to pay Rs 1,200 as first installment for per tonne of cane supplied by the farmers.

The factories have agreed to pay Rs 1,200 of the Rs 1,800 demanded by the organisations, including Shetkari Shanghatna and Swabhimani Shetkari Shanghatna (SSS), as the final payment for the crop for the year 2008-2009, SSS chief and MLA Raju Shetty told UNI today.

However, he threatened that the factories, which have not accepted the proposal, will not be allowed to start their sugarcane crushing season.

Recently, Union Government had announced the statutory minimum prices (SMP) as Rs 811 per tonne as first installment, while permitting higher capability to pay better.

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