Despite removing cap on basmati export price, KKU to hold protest on September 25

Even as the Central Government has removed the cap on the export price of basmati, the farmers’ union has announced to continue with its plan to hold protests on September 25 over the issue reasoning that other issues such as the MSP for basmati and better prices for sugarcane still remain unresolved.

The Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) had earlier announced to hold a protest at the district headquarters over the issue of cap on export prices of basmati as it had stated that this is the reason for low price in markets.

Leaders of the union stated that with the government removing the cap on export price of basmati, its price locally has already started to increase. Jatinder Singh Chinna of the union said, “We have also been demanding the minimum support price (MSP) for basmati which is still not fulfilled.” He said the protest scheduled for September 25 would highlight the shortage of DAP fertilizer required for sowing of wheat. The union has also demanded that prices of sugarcane be increased to ~450 quintal and sugarcane mills should remain operational till the first week of November. Chinna said as mills are closed early, farmers have very less time to sell their sugarcane.

“Everyone knows that DAP is required at the time of wheat sowing. But then again shortage is created to sell the fertilizer on black market. This time farmers are being forcibly sold nano DAP as they have the shortage of fertilizer,” said Chinna.