New Delhi, June 12: President A P J Abdul Kalam has asked the agriculture ministry to give "appropriate consideration" to the demands of the sugarcane growers in Uttar Pradesh for payment of the state advised price (SAP) of Rs 95-100 per quintal. A delegation of farmers from Uttar Pradesh under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sanghathan (KMS) had sought Kalam's intervention for redressal of their grievances in April.

The President communicated to the sanghathan that "since the cane price issue is sub-judice, it will be inappropriate for him to intervene in the matter".

However, the KMS convenor, V M Singh clarified to the President that as per court orders the state has the powers to fix the sap as the agreed price, it is the law of the land and needs to be implemented.
Subsequently, the President has forwarded the representations made by the cane growers to the agriculture ministry for appropriate consideration.

As regards the difficulties faced by the potato farmers, highlighted by the farmers' delegation, it is also being taken up with the concerned authorities for appropriate remedial action, a communication from the President's secretariat said.
The delegation during their meeting with the President had requested him to direct the state under article 142 to ensure compliance of Supreme Court order on payment of the sap.

Bureau Report