New Delhi: The Union government will soon constitute a special committee to examine the issues faced by sugarcane growers in Karnataka and Maharashtra and recommend possible solutions, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
Joshi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting with representatives of farmers’ organisations to discuss the demands of sugarcane growers. During the meeting, the ministers heard the farmers’ grievances and assured them that steps would be taken to address their concerns.
The farmers’ organisations raised issues relating to the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Centre’s ethanol policy.
Joshi said the decision to constitute the committee followed a suggestion from farmer leader Raju Shetti. The panel will examine the concerns in detail, identify issues requiring intervention by the central and state governments, and prepare a report outlining the key areas that need attention.
The government will explore practical solutions based on the committee’s findings, he added.
Emphasising the need for a comprehensive mechanism to address the challenges faced by sugarcane growers, Joshi said the government was committed to protecting farmers’ interests and taking necessary steps to resolve their concerns.
He appealed to the protesting farmers to call off their agitation and cooperate with the government in finding a solution through dialogue and the proposed committee.
The farmers’ organisations are now awaiting the constitution of the committee and the action the government will take on its recommendations.
