Mayawati woos farmers, hikes sugarcane price

In bid to woo the three million sugarcane farmers across the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday announced a hike in support price of sugarcane by Rs 40 to Rs 205 per quintal.

"This hike is not only unprecedented in the state, but it is also the highest price hike ever declared by any other state in the country. This takes the state advised price of sugarcane in the state to Rs 205 for the common variety of cane. The price for the two other varieties that are grown in far lesser quantity has been fixed at Rs 200 and Rs 210,"  Mayawati told mediapersons in Lucknow. 

Last year, the government had announced the SAP between Rs 160-170 per quintal, depending on the quality of the sugarcane.
 
Sugarcane growers in UP are seen by all political parties as a strong vote bank. And sure enough, the UP CM had this in mind when she decided to take up the issue in the state cabinet, which took this decision early on Tuesday morning.

Mayawati said, "The fact that neither any previous government in UP nor any other government in any state ever gave the farmers such a huge hike in sugarcane price

shows how much the Bahujan Samaj Party government cares for farmers."

While pointing out that her government had been benevolent towards sugarcane growers even last year, when they gave a hike of Rs 25 over the previous year's SAP, the UP CM went on to add, "Our price is far higher than that was recommended by the central government. It's high time the central government changed its mindset and started framing its policies with the larger interest of farmers in view."

Sugarcane growers are however not excited over the hike. Terming the hike as an eyewash, V M Singh, chief of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, said, "Farmers had already received a price of Rs 265 per quintal in 2009, when the state had fixed its SAP at Rs 165. So where is the hike?"

He said, "This is a reflection of a deal between the state government and the mill owners, who were being benefited in this manner."

While directing all sugar mills in the state to start this season's crushing as early as possible, Mayawati also instructed all district magistrates to hold tripartite meetings with farmers and sugar mill owners to resolve differences or disputes.