Farmers in India's biggest cane producing state have threatened to stop selling their produce to mills unless they are paid a higher price, leaders of farmers' bodies said after a protest rally in Uttar Pradesh. Sugar industry officials said farmers had no choice but to sell most of their cane to mills this year, but they may switch to other crops after the harvest if they are unhappy with the returns on cane.
"All farmers are united on the cane price and they are not ready to give their cane to mills for less than 280 rupees per 100 kg," said M.K. Mishra of a cane-growers federation. Last week, the state government raised the mandatory cane price by about 17-18 percent to 165-170 rupees per 100 kg for different varieties but millers said the rise was too steep, while farmers said they deserved more as sugar prices had doubled in a year.