Sugarcane farmers demand subsidy, MSP

HYDERABAD: A round table on sugarcane farmer's problems was held at Makhdoom Bhavan here on Tuesday. Leaders of the farmers cells of parties, who participated in the meeting, appealed to the state government to come to the rescue of sugarcane farmers by offering them subsidies and minimum support price.
State Sugarcane Farmers' Association president AV Gopala Rao said that about 7.5 percent farmers in the country were cultivating sugarcane. Cane cultivation, which was undertaken in 6 lakh acres in 20062007 in the state, came down to 4.5 lakh acres now due to lack of minimum support price and other problems, he said.AP Rythu Sangham president K Ramakrishna said investment on canefarming went up to Rs 80,000 per acre due to the hike in diesel and petrol prices and also in labour charges. Lack of minimum support price and other factors have caused a decline in the production. He said the governments in other states were providing Rs 2,200 to 2,500 per tonne in addition to payment of expenses whereas a farmer in Andhra Pradesh was being paid Rs 2,000 per tonne inclusive of expenses.