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Karnataka Sugar minister Prakash Hukkeri today appealed to sugarcane farmers across the state to withdraw their stir seeking higher minimum support price, saying that the state government had done everything in its ambit to provide higher returns.
Speaking to reporters here, he appealed to farmers ahead of the Winter session of the state legislature beginning here tomorrow, saying the newly announced price of Rs 2500 per tonne was arrived at after the government decided to write off Rs 300 crore of cess and other levies due from the sugar mills.
'We have taken all steps for welfare of sugarcane farmers both in North and South Karnataka and also kept mind the sustained production of sugar in the mills during ongoing harvesting season,' he said.
He assured that all sugar mill managements will be asked to ensure a minimum of Rs 2500 per tonne of sugarcane to farmers and anyone paying less than the support price will be dealt with.
Reports said that the mills were paying less than the state announced MSP as farmers were eager to harvest the fully grown crop as it loses value as the days go by.
Mr Hukkeri appealed to farmers not to give any agreement or bond to sugar factory owners agreeing for a lower price than the State MSP.
There are 58 sugar factories in state and 44 of them have started crushing the cane and the remaining would start product ion of sugar soon.
