The Hindu Business Line : Political parties demand aid for sugarcane farmers

"Besides strengthening the hands of the Sugar Commissionerate, the Government needs to frame uniform guidelines for all the factories in the State. The factories should acquire harvesting machines and give them on hire to the farmers."

Hyderabad April 26 With sugarcane farmers in Andhra Pradesh facing a serious crisis of glut following a bountiful crop this year, political parties, including the ruling Congress, have begun efforts to find solutions to the problem.

Broadly they demand that the Government announce an SAP (State Advisory Price), form uniform guidelines for all sugar factories and introduce harvesting machines to tackle the acute shortage of labour.

Thousands of tonnes of standing sugarcane crop still await cutting orders from factories for crushing. Besides facing the prospect of poor recovery rates due to the scorching heat, farmers feel that the prolonged season could have an adverse impact on the next crop year.

"We will chalk out a plan for staging protests across the State, demanding solutions for the problems being faced by the farmers," Mr S. Malla Reddy, a veteran farmers' leader belonging to CPM and General Secretary of AP Rythu Sangam, told Business Line.

Guidelines for factories

Mr Kodanda Reddy, chief of the Congress Party's Farmers' Cell in Andhra Pradesh, said the condition of sugarcane farmers in parts of Medak, Nizamabad and Chittoor was pathetic.

He led a delegation to these areas to study the situation and submit a list of recommendations to the Government.

"Besides strengthening the hands of the Sugar Commissionerate, the Government needs to frame uniform guidelines for all the factories in the State," he said, citing allegations made by farmers that most of the factories behaved like monopolies.

"The factories should acquire harvesting machines and give them on hire to the farmers. This would help them face the problem of labour shortage," he felt.

Echoing his views, Mr Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao, former Agriculture Minister and senior Telugu Desam Party leader, said labour charges for harvest works were as high as Rs 250. "Even at that rate, farmers are finding it difficult to get people," he said.

"We need to take the help of corporates to develop harvest machines that suit the needs of small farmers and small holdings," he observed.

He wanted the Union Government to set apart funds from the Sugar Development Fund for the purpose.

Tax refund

Mr Kodanda Reddy also suggested that the State Government should give the cheques for purchase tax refunds directly to the farmers and not through the factories.

Both leaders wanted the State to come out with the SAP as early as possible.

More Stories on : Sugar | Politics | Andhra Pradesh

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