Hike sugarcane price or face stir: Stalin

Claiming that the DMK had distributed Rs 608 per ton as minimum support price to cane farmers, Stalin accused the ruling AIADMK of decreasing the minimum support price for cane and said the government’s cane pricing policy has proven that the it does not care about either farmer’s wellbeing or development. 

Recalling the poll promise of the ruling party that it would ensure that arrears are not maintained in paying procurement and support price to farmers, the Leader of Opposition said the sugar mills run by the government and private parties owe Rs 2,000 crore arrears to the cane farmers in the same party’s regime. 

Alleging that no payment has been made in Vilupuram district for two years, he also expressed dismay at the government not settling the arrears of farmers despite the DMK raising the issue in the State Assembly and holding demonstrations aplenty, and that too when monsoon failure and depleting ground water level has jeopardised their livelihood.