Ahilyanagar: With the crushing season coming to an end and most sugar mills in the state closing their operations, farmers’ organisations are demanding that mills clear pending payments of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) along with interest as required under the law.
Farmers’ organisations in Ahilyanagar district have raised the demand, stating that if mills fail to address the issue, they will take legal action, Agrowon reported.
Farmers’ leader Nilesh Shedge said several mills have delayed FRP payments citing financial difficulties. However, he argued that farmers should not suffer because of financial decisions taken by the management.
Shedge said many sugar mills expanded their crushing capacity and launched new projects despite limited financial strength, which has now created economic problems for them. He said the management is responsible for the current situation.
Questioning why cane growers should bear the burden, he said that while some cooperative mills claim financial distress, privately run mills linked to the same groups are reportedly making profits.
He also alleged that even when mills claim to be facing financial difficulties, some directors continue to undertake domestic and foreign trips. In several cases, he claimed, workers’ salaries remain unpaid while loans have been taken in the name of employees for other expenses.
Shedge said farmers’ patience is now running out and warned that the management of sugar mills must clear the pending FRP dues within eight days, along with 15 percent interest, and also pay the outstanding wages of workers.
If the payments are not made within the deadline, the organisation plans to approach the court seeking action against the boards of directors of the mills and demanding that their assets be attached to recover the dues owed to farmers.
