Muzaffarnagar: Samajwadi Party MP Harendra Malik on Wednesday raised the issues of sugarcane farmers in the Lok Sabha, saying growers are struggling despite a recent increase in crop prices in Uttar Pradesh, reports Amar Ujala.
He pointed out that although sugar recovery in Haryana is lower, the state offers a higher cane price than Uttar Pradesh. He added that those selling fake fertilisers should face the strictest punishment.
Malik said the government had promised to double the income of sugarcane farmers, but growers are currently facing hardship. He noted that the sugarcane price in Uttar Pradesh is Rs. 400 per quintal, while neighbouring Haryana pays Rs. 415. Punjab offers Rs. 416 per quintal, and Uttarakhand pays Rs. 405, despite Uttar Pradesh achieving higher recovery.
He said prices of pesticides and fertilisers have increased by 50 per cent, worsening the situation for paddy and potato farmers. Rising input costs have made agriculture more difficult, he added.
Malik urged the government to intervene, saying that based on Uttar Pradesh’s higher recovery rate, cane prices should be fixed at Rs. 500 per quintal.
