Swabhimani leader warns of agitation after Diwali if Satara mills do not pay Rs 4,200 a tonne for cane

The sugarcane price issue has heated up again in Satara district. Raju Shelke, district president of the Swabhimani farmers' organisation and a Satara Zilla Parishad member, has warned mill owners and elected representatives that there will be a struggle after Diwali if the agreed price is not paid.

Farmers had held an agitation at the Kini toll plaza and at Nagthane under the leadership of the organisation's leader Raju Shetti. It drew good support, and the Pune-Bengaluru national highway was blocked for about 62 hours. The organisation claims that a positive understanding was then reached on a cane price of Rs 4,200 per tonne. According to the organisation, the administration had assured that farmers in all three districts, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara, would get this price.

A separate meeting to decide the cane price for Satara district was now held under the chairmanship of Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai. Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, MLA Atul Bhosale, and the chairmen, managing directors and bank directors of the district's sugar mills were present. The meeting decided that the mills of Sangli district should announce their final price first, after which the boards of directors of Satara's mills would meet and discuss the final price.

The Guardian Minister suggested that two zones be created on the basis of the recovery rate of Satara's cane, one with 11 to 12 per cent recovery and the other with more than 12 per cent, and that the price be fixed accordingly. Those present were said to have responded positively to these suggestions. But farmers feel that a different stand is now being taken on the Rs 4,200 price won through the agitation.

Given the influence of cooperative and private sugar mills linked to the district's senior leaders, the question is no longer only about money but has also become one of political prestige. Leaders who contest against each other in elections come together on mill issues. Farmers are asking why the same unity is not seen on the price that is the farmers' due. They expect these leaders to take a firm stand on this price as well.

Farmers are already troubled by rising costs, wages, fertiliser, pesticides and drought-like conditions. They have to agitate repeatedly to get a decision on the cane price. The demand is therefore growing that the fixed price be actually paid, not just assurances of positive discussion.

Raju Shelke said, "Do not put your foot on the farmers' throats. In 2029 the public will also meet and decide whom to vote for. Under Raju Shetti's leadership we held a hundred per cent successful agitation at the Kini toll plaza and Nagthane. It opened the way for farmers to get Rs 4,200. We were assured that this price would be given in all three districts, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara. The administration had promised that the price fixed in Kolhapur would be accepted in Satara and Sangli too."

He added, "Now, if the Guardian Minister of Satara district is holding a meeting and saying that we will decide the cane price, then after Diwali we will teach the mill owners a lesson. If it comes to a struggle on the streets, we are ready for that too. The struggle after Diwali will cost the sugar mill owners dearly. If the fixed price is not paid for cane, we will show when the time comes how the pride of the sugar barons is to be brought down. So the mill owners should act sensibly and not force us onto the streets again. We are ready for any struggle for the rights of the annadata."

Farmers are now talking of political awareness. The message is that seeking votes in the name of farmers during elections and putting off decisions when their economic interests are at stake will no longer be tolerated. The district is watching whether, if the mill owners are united, the farmers too will unite and respond through their votes.