Agreement to pay sugarcane farmers

By Our Correspondent,Sarlahi, Nov. 18: A four-point agreement has been reached with farmers protesting at Annapurna Sugar Industries in West Dhankaul, Sarlahi, demanding payment for the sugarcane they sold last year.

The agreement was signed between the local administration, industrialists, and farmers during a meeting held at the District Administration Office, Sarlahi.

According to the agreement, the difference between the amount paid by the industry during the last crushing season (2024/25) and the price later fixed by the government will be determined and paid to the farmers within two months.

Last year, before the government announced the official sugarcane price, Annapurna Sugar Industry had purchased sugarcane from farmers and operated the mill. 

At that time, the industry paid Rs. 20 per quintal less than the rate later set by the government. Farmers are therefore demanding that the difference be calculated and paid.

Similarly, it was agreed that the actual amount owed to farmers for the fiscal years 2013/14 to 2018/19, during the tenure of former director Rakesh Kumar Agrawal, will be determined within one month. 

After the report is submitted, discussions will be held again and the payment process will move forward as per mutual agreement, said Shyambabu Raya, President of the Federation of Sugarcane Producers’ Association, who participated in the talks.

Sugarcane farmers have claimed that they have not received around Rs. 97 million from Annapurna Sugar Industry for the past 12 years.

The meeting also agreed that all stakeholders—including sugarcane farmers and workers—will coordinate to ensure the smooth operation of the sugar mills. 

The industry administration will also make necessary arrangements to control pollution caused during this year’s crushing season.

With the agreement reached, sugarcane farmers have temporarily suspended their protest programmes, including the sit-in at the industry.