Satara, Oct. 14 -- Raju Shetty, National President of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and former MP, today asserted that farmers should not rush the cutting of sugarcane this year, warning that sugar factory owners will otherwise purchase their produce at "scrap prices."Shetty, who was addressing a sugar rate decision committee meeting at Gopuj in Khatav tehsil of Satara district, said that sugarcane production is expected to decrease this year due to the imbalance in nature. He cautioned that while factory owners will be reluctant to pay a fair price, sugarcane farmers should hold firm.
He used strong language, stating that sugar factory owners were not social reformers but a 'gang of plunderers' (Lutaru). He assured farmers they...