Act Of Protest: Sugarcane growers burn their crop
They said that the government is committing ‘economic murder’ of the peasants
LARKANA:
Sugarcane growers of the Hussain Bux Jatoi village situated near Thoof Chausool burnt their standing sugarcane crop in protest of what they saw as the ‘high-handedness’ of sugar mill owners and the Sindh government in not paying them the official price of the commodity. The crop, sown over 12 acres, was destroyed by the growers. They said that the government is committing ‘economic murder’ of the peasants. According to them, they burnt the crop because the sugar mill owner is paying them Rs155 for 40 kilogrammes instead of the official rate of Rs182. They warned that if growers are not paid the official prices of their produce, they will stop sowing sugarcane, wheat and paddy crops from next year and switch to other crops.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2015.
Sugarcane growers of the Hussain Bux Jatoi village situated near Thoof Chausool burnt their standing sugarcane crop in protest of what they saw as the ‘high-handedness’ of sugar mill owners and the Sindh government in not paying them the official price of the commodity. The crop, sown over 12 acres, was destroyed by the growers. They said that the government is committing ‘economic murder’ of the peasants. According to them, they burnt the crop because the sugar mill owner is paying them Rs155 for 40 kilogrammes instead of the official rate of Rs182. They warned that if growers are not paid the official prices of their produce, they will stop sowing sugarcane, wheat and paddy crops from next year and switch to other crops.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2015.