DMK chief seeks hike in sugarcane procurement price

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi today sought a hike in the procurement price of sugarcane, saying farmers had demanded that it be hiked to Rs 3000 from the present Rs 2350.

"Farmers are demanding that the procurment price be hiked to Rs 3000 per tonne," he said adding they were also pressing for sugar mills to bear the charges towards transportation besides expenses involved in the cutting of cane.

In a statement here, he said the ruling AIADMK had in its 2011 poll manifesto promised to revise the sum to Rs 2500, but it had not been effected so far.

Around 3.5 lakh farmers involved in sugar cane growing had expected the government to come out with an announcement in this regard during the recent Address of the Governor to the Assembly or by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during her reply on the motion to thank the governor for his address, he said.

But the government did not come up with any such announcements, he added.