Parbhani: Farmers held a road blockade at Pokhrani Pati in Pathri taluka of Parbhani district on Saturday, pressing for a price of Rs. 3,000 per tonne for sugarcane. A large number of protesters gathered at the site, prompting the police to maintain tight security. The agitation ended only after talks with the sugar mill’s administrative board resulted in acceptance of the demand, reported The Free Press Journal.
Seven sugar mills in Parbhani district had not announced the sugarcane price for the current season. Farmers had earlier set an eight-day deadline for the mills to declare the rate, but neither the owners nor the administrator announced any price. In response, the Swabhimani Kisan Sanghatan and Kisan Sabha organised the road blockade on Saturday. Farmers from across the district reached Pokhrani Pati from 11 a.m. onward, and police stayed on high alert throughout the protest.
A team from sugar mill later arrived at the protest site and held discussions with farmer leaders Kishor Dhage and Deepak Lipne. Farmers reiterated their demand for rate of Rs. 3,000 per tonne. The delegation agreed to the demand and gave an assurance that the rate would be implemented. After the assurance, the farmers ended their protest.
