Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, two major sugarcane growing areas of the country, stormed the parliament in protest against the sugarcane pricing ordinance.

The first day parliament’s winter session on Thursday, November 19, was adjourned after acrimonious scenes in the House in support of the farmers who were protesting against the Centre’s sugarcane price control ordinance that discourages states from fixing higher prices. Farmers are demanding at least Rs 250-280 per quintal of cane.

All opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), joined in the protest spearheaded by the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh.

After the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held an emergency meeting with senior ministers, including agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. Indicating that the government was ready to concede some ground, Pawar said the government was prepared to discuss the ordinance in Parliament.

Meanwhile, eminent agriculture scientist and member of Parliament M S Swaminathan demanded that a committee of experts be set up to decide sugarcane prices.

The central government had announced fair and remunerative price (FRP) of Rs.129.79 per quintal for sugarcane for the 2009-10 crushing season, while the Uttar Pradesh State Advisory Price (SAP) had been set at Rs165-170 per quintal.

Ajit Singh said, “Sugarcane farming in UP is dependent totally on diesel and the price of diesel is touching the sky. In such a scenario if the farmers do not get an adequate price for their produce, the agitation is completely justified. Uttar Pradesh provides 40% of the total sugar supplies in the country.”

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