August 26: Sugarcane farmers of Sarlahi, who have not yet received full payment for the sale of sugarcane to sugar mills, have again started their protest in the capital demanding their due payment.

According to government data, out of a total of Rs 650 million due to sugarcane farmers, Rs 150 million is yet to be paid. However, sugarcane farmers claim that they are yet to receive dues worth Rs 250 million out of the total amount of Rs 900 million.

Demanding payment of the due amount, the sugarcane farmers had held a press conference in Kathmandu in mid-July last year giving the deadline of August 21 to the sugar mills and government to clear the dues.

Sugarcane farmers have started preparations for the protest after their demands were not met by the government and the sugar mills. According to Rakesh Mishra, a member of the Sugarcane Farmer Struggle Committee Sarlahi, sugarcane farmers owe Rs 80 million to Annapurna Sugar Industry of Sarlahi, Rs 5 million to Mahalakshmi Sugar Mill in Sarlahi, Rs 30 million to Shri Ram Sugar Mill in Rautahat, Rs 20 million to Indira Sugar Mill Nawalparasi and Rs 20 million to Lumbini Sugar Factory.

“Despite repeated requests from the government to pay this amount as soon as possible, the sugar mills have not responded. So there is no alternative than to protest. We are fully prepared for the movement which can start anytime,” he told New Business Age.  

Furthermore, he said that ith the government has assured them several times that it will facilitate in clearing the dues, but many farmers have not received any amount yet and they are not ready to make any agreement now.

Secretary of the committee Harishyam Raya said that the task force formed to resolve the issue of Rs 900 million claimed by the farmers and Rs 650 million claimed by the government has also been unfair to them.

According to him, the task force did not disclose the amount even though it was mentioned that the farmers were yet to receive the due from the industrialists. All Nepal Peasants’ Union, All Nepal Progressive Peasants’ Association, All Nepal Peasants’ Federation and other organizations have also supported the sugarcane farmers.