Sugarcane farmers withdraw protest after Punjab announces hike in prices

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 24

Sugarcane farmers withdrew their blockade after the Punjab government hiked the state-advised price of sugarcane by Rs 35 a quintal to Rs 360, officials said on Tuesday.

The decision came after a meeting between farmers’ unions and the chief minister.

The price offered by Punjab is Rs 2 more than the one offered by neighbouring Haryana, a press release from the chief minister’s office.

Farmer union leaders were miffed previously about price parity with Haryana.

Farmers were demanding Rs 400 a quintal and clearance of their dues. The Punjab government had previously offered them a hike of Rs 15 a quintal, which they rejected. The state government had previously offered to revise sugarcane rates to Rs 325 for the early variety, Rs 315 for mid-variety, and Rs 310 per quintal for the late maturing variety.

Protesters had blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar national highway near Dhanowali village of Jalandhar district as well as railway tracks near Jalandhar, affecting several trains.

— With inputs from agencies

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