By Our Correspondent
Sarlahi, Dec. 12: Sugarcane farmers have demanded to increase the price of sugarcane based on production cost.
The Federation of Sugarcane Producers’ Association, an umbrella organisation of sugarcane farmers, has demanded that the price of sugarcane be fixed at Rs. 650 per quintal this year.
President of the Federation Kapilmuni Mainali said that the price of sugarcane should be increased on the basis of production cost and sale price of sugar.

A few days ago, the representatives of sugarcane farmers had demanded an increase in the price of sugarcane during a meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Ray Yadav.
According to Mainali, Minister Yadav has responded positively to their demand.
Sugarcane farmers and industrialists are in a dilemma as the price of sugarcane has not been fixed though the time to operate the sugar factories has started.

If the price of sugarcane is not fixed on the basis of production cost, the number of farmers quitting sugarcane farming will increase, said Devendra Yadav, Mayor of Godaita Municipality, Sarlahi.
Last year, the government had fixed the price of sugarcane at Rs. 536.56 per quintal. Sugarcane farmers have demanded an increase of Rs. 100 per quintal this year than the last year.

Although the price of sugarcane has not been fixed, final preparations are being made to operate sugar mills in Sarlahi. The Indushankar Sugar Mill, Hariwan of the district is preparing to start sugarcane crushing from mid-December, 2021. Similarly, Annapurna Sugar Mill, Dhankaul, which was closed last year, is also being prepared for operation this year.
According to the mill administration, Mahalakshmi Sugar Industry, Bagdaha is also preparing to start sugarcane crushing immediately.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Prakash Sanjel informed that preparations are being made to fix the price of sugarcane for this year within this week.
He said that the price of sugarcane would be fixed in a more scientific and practical manner than in the past.