The three hours meeting of Farmer leaders with officials of Jalandhar administration today remained inconclusive as no agreement could be reached on the cost of production for sugarcane. The highway and rail blockade to continue.
The farmers have now fixed another meeting with Punjab CM and other government officials on Tuesday. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will preside over a meeting with cane growers tomorrow at 3pm in Chandigarh.
Stating this here after a meeting held with cane growers, Punjab’s Commissioner Agriculture Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu said that detailed deliberations were taken place with farmers at district administrative complex, where their all genuine concerns were also heard patiently.
He also mentioned that on most of the issues, a consensus between government and farmers had evolved while there are still differences on some issues, which were expected to be resolved in tomorrow's meeting with the Chief Minister. He described today's meeting as a step in the right direction to end the ongoing agitation of the farmers.
Meanwhile, service roads were opened for Raksha Bandhan on Sunday, while the dharna now continues as usual. They commuters are at receiving end as huge traffic could be witnessed both at highway and in the city.
The farmers have been demanding State Advised Price (SAP) on sugarcane to be raised to at least Rs 370, as compared to the previous price of Rs 295 to 310 (varying according to variety).
They said the per quintal price of sugarcane in Haryana was Rs 350 last year and had now been raised to Rs 358, but sugarcane growers in Punjab had been receiving a price of Rs 310 per quintal for the last five years.
The protesting farmers said that if their demands are not met, they’ll intensify their agitation and would also give a call for Punjab Bandh.
Also Read: Sidhu speaks in support of Sugarcane farmers, says Punjab’s assured price less than other states
“We are hopeful that Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh will pay heed to our demands and the SAP on sugarcane will be raised to at least Rs 370. In case the meeting remains inconclusive, we’ll continue with our protest”, said a farm leader.