Sugarcane farmers not getting payment

Parasi, November 9

Sugarcane farmers here have been agitated as Lumbini Sugar Mill of Sunwal in West Nawalparasi paid them less than the price fixed by the government.

Sugarcane farmers have demanded immediate operation of the sugar mill and payment as per the government-fixed price for fiscal 2018-2019 — Rs 536.56 per quintal.

The sugar mill is bound to provide Rs 471.28 per quintal while the government provides Rs 65.28 per quintal as grant. Gyan Chandra Yadav complained that Lumbini Sugar Mill paid only Rs 385 per quintal. The mill said farmers who did not receive payment would not get their dues cleared.

Arjun Chaudhary a farmer from Ramgram-17 said, “I have yet to receive last year’s due for 2,200 quintals. Now the mill says it won’t operate this year too. How can we manage the sugarcane farm?”

Ram Bhawan Yadav warned of stir if the mill did not heed the farmers.

Chief District Officer in West Nawalparasi, Shambhu Prasad Marasini, informed that efforts were on to resolve the farmers’ problems. “Although we are trying to address farmers’ demands, initiative from government was required.”