Doaba, Majha cane growers lead stir against meagre SAP

Aparna Banerji

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 21

Farmers of the Doaba and Majha sugarcane belts are at the forefront of the protest which started in Jalandhar on August 20. While surgarcane cultivation started as part of diversification in the 1990s, farmers of the region say the government has left them in the lurch with the meagre State Assured Price (SAP).

Doaba Kisan Union, Bhartiya Kisan Union and Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee are leading from the front at the dharna site. While 15,000 members of the Majha Kisan Sangharsh Committee (MKSC) are supporting the dharna, Gurdaspur farmers, too, are playing an important role. Batala, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Pathankot, Bhoa, Hoshiarour, Bhogpur and Dasuya comprise the sugarcane belt in the state.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Baljit Singh has been in Jalandhar for the protest since yesterday. “Singhu morcha is for the country, but this protest is for Punjab. The morcha is airing the concerns of the sugarcane belt and demanding a decent hike in SAP,” he says.

Bring sap on par with that of hry

We are asking for at least Rs363 to Rs383 a quintal on a par with Haryana. At present, with SAP of Rs310, we are incurring a loss of Rs50-70 per quintal. —Balwinder Singh Raju, MKSC president

“The successive governments promised to increase SAP by Rs 15-20 every year. The promise hasn’t been fulfilled yet. In Gurdaspur yesterday, our cavalcade was 2-3 km long. Farmers know if they get together, they will get the promised rates. We hope to find a solution in tomorrow’s meeting,” he says.

Balwinder Singh Raju, president, MKSC, says: “The Beas flows between Majha and Doaba. No other crop except sugarcane works in that region. Every year there are floods. They (government) don’t adequately compensate us for floods. We want to diversify, but there’s no MSP for us. The MSP of corn is Rs 1,800, but it sells for mere Rs 800-900. The MSP of Moong is Rs 7,500, but traders pay mere Rs 4,000. Dals don’t sell at MSP. They want to give everything to corporates. It is shameful they won’t pay SAP for sugrcane either.”

He adds, “What are we asking is at least Rs 363 to Rs 383 a quintal on a par with Haryana. At present, with SAP of Rs 310, we are incurring a loss of Rs 50-70. In 2017, we held a meeting with Manpreet Badal and he promised Rs 10 that year and a regular hike every year. But now they tell us they don’t have money.”