Cane farmers from Thanjavur seek Rs 4,500 MSP per tonne

TIRUCHY: Sugarcane farmers from Thanjavur staged a protest demanding MSP of Rs 4,500 in front of the Kurungulam Arignar Anna Sugar Mill on Tuesday.

The protesting farmers, headed by the Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Production Association president P Ramasamy, said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay promised MSP of Rs 3,500 per quintal of paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne of sugarcane during the election campaign, but the promise has not so far been fulfilled. They demanded that the MSP be as promised in the upcoming state budget.

Meanwhile, they pointed out that a special incentive of Rs 4,500 for paddy used to be released in October till the previous government, and the same should be followed by this government, and a GO should be released on this, they said.

They also demanded drought compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to farmers and Rs 10,000 to agricultural labourers.

Later, they raised slogans in support of their demands with the sugarcane crops. General Secretary R Thirupathi and others took part in the protest.