BADIN, Jan 21: Sugarcane growers of Badin district have warned the mill owners to pay purchase price of the commodity at or Rs67 per 40kg as fixed by the government otherwise they will stop cultivation of the commodity from next year.

This was decided at a meeting organised by Abadgar Welfare Association and Sindh Abadgar Board Badin here on Monday.

Addressing the gathering Arbab Rahim said that agriculture sector was the major contributor to the national economy and 70 per cent population living in rural areas was directly dependent on it. He said that this sector was moving force of the economy, that’s why, he said, he gave full attention to the problems of the growers during his tenure as chief minister.

He said that Rs67 per 40kg of sugarcane was fixed amicably and no one was forced in this regard. He expressed his anguish over negative approach of the millers and warned them to change their attitude towards growers, who deserved respect. He said unfortunately owners of mills were involved in politics as most of the ministers owned mills who blackmailed the growers.

He said that prices of urea and pesticides should be reduced and millers should provide facilities of inputs.

He said that masses could force millers to mend their ways and if they did not stop violating Sugarcane Act, growers would teach them a lesson once for all. He said that he was also a landlord but he never received a single penny of his sugarcane supplied to a sugar mill.He said he was with the growers in their struggle and even in protests against mill owners.

He agreed with the growers’ ultimatum to the mill owners regarding solution of their problems, including purchase of cane at fixed price,

minimised role of middlemen and payment of arrears with mark-ups.

Syed Ali Bux Shah said that a loss of Rs one billion was being incurred by the cane growers in Badin at the hands of the mill owners who were purchasing cane for Rs54 per 40kg against fixed rate of Rs67. He said that the millers would not be losers

if they purchased sugarcane at the government-fixed price.

Addressing the gathering, Ismail Rahu said that cane growers should unite on one platform and chalk out a programme to stop excesses of the millers.

They said responsibility of collapse of sugarcane industry in Sindh would rest on sugar millers if they adopted dirty tactics against the growers.

They demanded of millers to facilitate growers in cane development programmes and adopt principle of “give respect and be respected”. They demanded full payment of liabilities and payment of purchased cane within a week’s time.

A number of resolutions were passed on the occasion, demanding price of sugarcane at Rs67 per 40kg, payment of sugarcane dues to the growers within week’s time and payment of liabilities and premiums without delay.

Among others, Tariq Niazi, Mohammad Nawaz Memon, Khizer Hayat, Major (Retd) Umer and Zafar Ali Shah also spoke on the occasion.