Farmers seeks review of FRP for sugarcane fixed by Centre

The Hindu

a day ago

Sugarcane growers have urged the State government to seek a review of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) fixed by the Centre for the year 2025-26.
A delegation of farmers submitted a memorandum in this regard to tahsildar of Nanjangud near here on Tuesday. President of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj described the FRP of ₹3,550 a tonne announced by the Centre for sugarcane with a recovery of 10.25% for the year as 'unscientific and unjust'.
Mr. Bhagyaraj said the Centre had increased the FRP by only ₹150 a tonne over the previous year even though the cost of production had increased substantially.
'As the cost of production, labour cost for harvest, transportation, fertilizers, and wages have all increased, this increase of ₹150 a tonne amounts to just 15 paise a kg', he lamented.
Contending that a report by Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) had recommended a price of ₹4,500 a tonne, Mr. Bhagyaraj alleged that the Centre had increased the FRP by only ₹150 a tonne due to 'pressure from sugar factory owners and capitalists'.
Lok Sabha members should also put pressure on the Centre to re-evaluate the FRP rate, he said.
The farmers' body have demanded the installation of weighing machines in front of all sugar factories by the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and the Department of Co-operation. 'Digital SMS alerts should be sent to the farmers immediately after weighing,' said Mr. Bhagyaraj, in the statement.
Demanding bilateral agreements between the sugar mills and the farmers, he said a committee comprising local farmers and experts should be constituted to prevent fraud in recovery rates of sugarcane.
The income statements of the sugar mills should be reviewed by both the State government and the Centre, he said while demanding distribution of excess profits to the farmers.
The government should intervene to protect the interests of the farmers, and that the sugar factories should be made to bear the costs of transportation and harvesting, he said.
The association has demanded immediate settlement of last year's pending dues amounting to ₹950 crore, and that the Hullahalli road be immediately repaired, and the Hura lift irrigation project be completed soon.