Sugarcane farmers take to streets demanding subsidy

By Our Correspondent,Sarlahi, Oct. 21: Sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi district staged a protest in Harion on Friday after the government did not provide them with subsidies for sugarcane even during the festival of Dashain.

The sugarcane subsidy used to be provided to the farmers on the eve of Dashain in the past.  But, this year, they did not get it.

The angry farmers then gathered and demonstrated along the East-West Highway in Harion.

Raj Kumar Upreti, President of Mill Gate Sugarcane Producers Committee, Sarlahi, warned that a symbolic movement was held on Friday and a strong movement would be launched after Dasahin.

According to him, the federal government had promised to send funds for subsidies to the districts by October 12.

According to Purushottam Baral, Treasury Controller of District Treasury Controller Office, Malangawa, out of Rs. 292.5 million that should have been received for Sarlahi, only Rs. 90 million was received as of Thursday.

He said that if the remaining amount was released after Dashain, it would be possible to send the money to the farmers’ account before Tihar.

The government fixed the price of sugarcane at Rs. 610 per quintal in the crushing season of 2022/23. Of this, the sugar industry will pay Rs. 540 per quintal and the remaining Rs. 70 will be provided by the government as subsidies.

Kapil Muni Mainali, President of the Federation of Sugarcane Producers Association, said that the farmers are in a financial crisis after they did not get the subsidies even in Dashain.

The farmers, who launched the agitation on Friday, have suspended it for the time being after the local administration promised to provide the subsidy money after Dashain.

Jawaharlal Kushwaha, a member of the Madhes Provincial Assembly, also attended the protest of sugarcane farmers in Hariwan.

Upreti warned, “If we do not get the subsidy after Dashain, we will launch a strong protest.”