Members of the Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers’ Association observed a day-long fast here on Wednesday demanding immediate payment of Rs. 720 crore dues from private sugar mills on account of non-implementation of State Advisory Price for the last few years.
The farmers demanded payment of the dues with 15 per cent interest.
Speakers complained that the Fair and Remunerative Price of Rs. 2,300 a tonne fixed for sugarcane for 2015-16 by the Union Government was not in consonance with the escalated production cost.
The Centre and the State must together ensure Rs. 3,500 a tonne, they said.
They condemned private mills in the area for refusing to part with the share of profit accruing to farmers notwithstanding a court order to that effect. The State Government must take over administration of private sugar mills that have refused to implement SAP, association representatives said.
