Raju Shetti cuts sugarcane first-payment demand to Rs 4,200 a tonne as highway blockade enters third day

The farmers' agitation over sugarcane prices entered its third day today, November 5. The rasta roko protest, led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti, continues on the highway. The Opposition in the state appears quite aggressive at present. On one side, a major dispute has arisen in Kolhapur over the election of the chairman of the Gokul milk union. On the other, the farmers' struggle over the sugarcane price has intensified.

Thousands of farmers are sitting on the highway at the Kini toll plaza in Kolhapur district and at Nagthane in Satara. They say they will not back down without their demands being met. As a result, traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway has come to a complete halt.

The Sanghatana had initially demanded a first payment of Rs 4,500 per tonne of sugarcane. But sugar mill owners were not willing to go beyond Rs 3,800, so talks were not moving forward.

To avoid a loss to farmers and to find a way out through talks, Shetti has now stepped back and made a fresh demand of a first payment of Rs 4,200. He has appealed to the mill owners to give up their rigid stand and give farmers a fair price.

Addressing a gathering at the Kini toll plaza, Shetti issued a direct warning to mill owners. He said the sugarcane crop is ready at the farmers' doorstep and Diwali is close. If farmers do not get justice, he said, a Holi protest will be held in front of the homes of sugar mill chairmen and directors.

Long lines of vehicles have formed at the Kini toll plaza and in the Nagthane area because of the agitation. Vehicles travelling from Satara towards Kolhapur have had to take other routes. The movement of heavy trucks has also been badly affected.

The farmers spent the whole night on the highway. Women from villages have come forward to arrange rotis, vegetables and other food for the protesters.

With Shetti having put forward the Rs 4,200 proposal, all eyes are now on the stand the mill owners will take. It remains to be seen whether a resolution emerges or the agitation flares up further.