Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati on Wednesday said Cane department officers have been asked to fix rates for produce of the farmers on the basis of
existing sugar prices in the market.
"The cane department officers have been directed to
ensure that cane farmers get price of their produce on the
basis of market price for sugar. The government intends that
cane farmers should also get benefit of hike in sugar prices,"
Mayawati told reporters here.
She said the government has fixed Rs 160-170 per
quintal as the minimum rate and the officers have been asked
to ensure that farmers get higher prices on the basis of
market conditions.
"The effort is to ensure that farmers get reasonable
price for their produce and the officers have been directed to
take all required steps. Laxity will not be tolerated," she
said.
The Chief Minister claimed that due to efforts of the
government, the ongoing impasse by sugarcane farmers was
resolved in western UP, including Meerut and Saharanpur where
sugar mills have started operations again.
"Safeguarding interest of the cane farmers is the top
priority for the government," she said.
Mayawati said Uttar Pradesh was the first to lodge a
protest against Fair and Remunerative price (FRP) ordinance
which, she claimed, encroached upon the rights of the state.
"It was due to a string of protests by the UP that the
ordinance was withdrawn," she said.
PTI
