The government ordered the industrialists to pay the dues of the sugarcane farmers within five days. The government today issued the directive to clear the dues of the sugarcane farmers, after repeated complaints of farmers not being paid their dues from earlier years.
A meeting of the ministers for Finance, Agriculture and Livestock Development, Industry and Supplies, Forests and Environment, and General Administration – along with the secretaries – took the decision to give the industrialists an ultimatum, agriculture minister Chakrapani Khanal informed. The government has also warned the industrialists of punishment, if they failed to clear their dues to the farmers within 5 days, he said, adding that different organisations of sugarcane farmers – yesterday – had warned to take to the streets after their dues were not cleared for long.
According to the recommendation of the Agriculture Ministry, the government had fixed Rs 536.56 for a quintal of sugarcane to the farmers including Rs 65.28 in grant from the government. However, the farmers have not yet received the money even after six months of the decision.
The farmers' claimed that the sugar mills have to pay Rs 2 billion and the government has to pay Rs 1.28 billion in grant to the farmers.
Out of 31 registered sugar mills, some 13 are in operation, which crush sugarcane to produce sugar. The government – on September 17 – had fixed sugar import quota for the current fiscal year at 100,000 tonnes to save domestic industries and help clear them the stock.
While the sugarcane farmers are yet to get their payment, sugar mills have been raising sugar price after the government imposed import restriction. The sugar price has already been raised to Rs 75 from Rs 60 per kg.
A meeting of the ministers for Finance, Agriculture and Livestock Development, Industry and Supplies, Forests and Environment, and General Administration – along with the secretaries – took the decision to give the industrialists an ultimatum, agriculture minister Chakrapani Khanal informed. The government has also warned the industrialists of punishment, if they failed to clear their dues to the farmers within 5 days, he said, adding that different organisations of sugarcane farmers – yesterday – had warned to take to the streets after their dues were not cleared for long.
According to the recommendation of the Agriculture Ministry, the government had fixed Rs 536.56 for a quintal of sugarcane to the farmers including Rs 65.28 in grant from the government. However, the farmers have not yet received the money even after six months of the decision.
The farmers' claimed that the sugar mills have to pay Rs 2 billion and the government has to pay Rs 1.28 billion in grant to the farmers.
Out of 31 registered sugar mills, some 13 are in operation, which crush sugarcane to produce sugar. The government – on September 17 – had fixed sugar import quota for the current fiscal year at 100,000 tonnes to save domestic industries and help clear them the stock.
While the sugarcane farmers are yet to get their payment, sugar mills have been raising sugar price after the government imposed import restriction. The sugar price has already been raised to Rs 75 from Rs 60 per kg.
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