Satara, Correspondent
Farmers' organisations and the Kisan Congress staged a Chakka Jam protest on the national highway at Nagthane in Satara district, demanding a minimum price of ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and former Union Minister Prithviraj Chavan personally participated in the agitation and expressed support for the farmers' demands. Addressing the protesters, Chavan said their demands were justified and assured them that he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the concerned Union Ministers to explore a positive resolution.
Speaking at the protest site, Prithviraj Chavan said, "Farmers must receive a remunerative price for their sugarcane in proportion to the cost of production. The demand for ₹4,500 per tonne needs to be taken seriously, considering the hard work of farmers and the rising cost of cultivation. I will take up their demands with the Chief Minister and the concerned ministers in the Central Government and make efforts to find a positive solution."
Farmers are facing mounting financial difficulties due to the increasing cost of sugarcane cultivation. Rising expenditure on agricultural labour, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, harvesting and transportation has significantly increased the financial burden on sugarcane growers.
Against this backdrop, securing a fair and remunerative price for sugarcane has become a critical issue for farmers. Demanding ₹4,500 per tonne, the farmers' organisations and the Kisan Congress called for the highway blockade to press the government into addressing their concerns.
During the agitation, Chavan interacted with the farmers present at the venue and listened to their various demands and difficulties. He emphasised the need for the government to take immediate decisions on issues affecting the farming community and assured the protesters that he would pursue their demands with the authorities.
The Chakka Jam protest affected vehicular movement on the national highway at Nagthane. A large police contingent was deployed at the protest site to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.
Several prominent representatives participated in the agitation, including Raju Shelke of the Farmers' Organisation, Kisan Congress Working President Wasim Inamdar, Youth Congress Man Taluka President Mahesh Karche and Vikas Patil-Shirgaonkar, along with other Kisan Congress office-bearers, farmers' organisation activists and a large number of farmers.
The protesters expressed their determination to continue the agitation until their demand for a sugarcane price of ₹4,500 per tonne is fulfilled.
000
