Sugarcane farmers have been agitating for more then two months in support of their demand for better support price for their produce.

Chief Minister Mayawati had announced a support price of Rs 165 per quintal against the demand of farmers for a support price of Rs 250-280.

The purchase price being offered by sugar mills is between Rs 195 and Rs 210 per quintal. But other states are offering between Rs 220 and 250 per quintal.

It may be mentioned that RLD president Ajit Singh, who led the farmer's agitation in New Delhi on November 19, compromised to accept a price of Rs 195 per quintal and suspended his agitation. All major opposition parties like the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Left parties joined the farmers' agitation in New Delhi on November 19.

The parties are demanding the scrapping of Fair Remunerative Price (FAP) fixed at Rs 130 per quintal for sugarcane by the UPA government. The issue was raised in Parliament and the opposition charged the UPA government with working against the interest of farmers.

But with mounting pressure from his own party workers and local farmers, Ajit Singh has decided to revive the agitation for sugarcane farmers.

The sharp differences between Tikait and Ajit Singh surfaced on December 1 when Ajit Singh held a kisan panchayat at Shamili in western UP and Tikait staged a dharna in Lucknow the same day.

In Lucknow a delegation of BKU met Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister, Shailesh Krishna, who told them that the CM had directed the divisional commissioners to ensure the highest price from sugar mills. The divisional commissioners have also been directed to ensure that farmers get the price being given in neighboring states.

BKU's memorandum to the Chief Minister has demanded that sugarcane farmers should be given at least Rs 280 per quintal besides adequate power supply for Rabi crops. The farmers have also demanded the constitution of a state-level farmers' commission, farm loans at four per cent interest and family health insurance.

The UP Kisan Sabha headed by CPI national secretary Atul Anjan also held a march of farmers in Lucknow. Addressing thousands of farmers who had come all parts of the state, Mr Anjan alleged that UPA government had fixed the FAP under pressure from the anti-farmer Indian Sugar Mill Association.

Anjan, who is general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, said since the cost of production of sugarcane was Rs 220, farmers should be given Rs 280 per quintal, adding that that the manner in which FAP was fixed was against the spirit of the Supreme Court order. He further said that UPA government at the Centre as well as the Mayawati government in the State had acted to further the interests of sugar mill owners.

Anzan said that UP Kisan Sabha would mount pressure on the Mayawati government to ensure payment of adequate support price.

The CPI leader recalled that arrears amounting to Rs 4000 crore pending since 2007, should be given to the farmers. He said the Kisan Sabha had also demanded a ban on acquisition of agricultural land and a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for all farmers above 60 years of age.

Opposing the acquisition of farm land Mr. Anjan said that the displacement of farmers was causing a serious threat to food security in the country. Mr Anjan also denounced the manner in which land was being acquired for Ganga Expressway, Betwa expressway, Yamuna Expressway, Industrial Development Authority and Hitech city. (IPA)