Though ‘betrayed’ sugarcane farmers still hope to get payments
KATHMANDU: Despite assurances from the sugar mill operators and the government, several sugarcane farmers are yet to receive payments for their produce since 2013.
The farmers, in fact, feel betrayed not to have received the money that they owe from the mill operators but are equally disappointed with the government’s apathy.
On 29th December 2019, sugarcane farmers from various districts of the Terai staged protests in the country’s capital, Kathmandu demanding that they get paid what they are owed.
Amid protests, representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) called on the government to take action on the mill owners, who are alleged of dillydallying to make the payments to the farmers.
On the 2nd of January 2020, the agitated sugarcane farmers gave the government a seven-day ultimatum. After almost a week of protests, the farmers warned of launching a nation-wide protest if their demands were not met within the stipulated time.
During a meeting with sugarcane farmers held at the Ministry of Industry in the second week of January, Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel, Industry Minister Lekhraj Bhatta and Agriculture Minister Ghanshyam Bhusal vowed to clear all the outstanding payment of the sugarcane farmers by January 21.
