A body of sugarcane farmers yesterday rejected the government's cane purchasing price, demanding Tk 150 a maund for the upcoming crushing season.

In the last week of September, the government increased the price of sugar-canes at mill gates by Tk 10 a maund (37.32 kilograms), taking it up to Tk 93.

Bangladesh Aakhchashi Union, a body of sugarcane farmers, threatened to stop a supply of cane to 15 state-owned sugar mills unless the price demands are met.

The activist body formed a human chain yesterday in front of National Press Club, placing a 19-point demand sheet.

The body demanded that the crushing season begin at the mills from October 21 this year.

"The recent hike in procurement prices does not meet farmers' expectations. If the government does not meet our demands, we will stop the supply of sugarcanes to the mills,” said Abdus Salam, president of Bangladesh Aakhchashi Union, at the human chain.

Earlier, another lobby group of farmers, Bangladesh Chinikal Aakhj chashi Federation, demanded an increase in the sugarcane purchase price toTk 120 amaund.

At the human chain, the union opposed any cut in payments to bear

transport costs from the farmers' fields to the purchasing centres.

Other demands included eradicating illegal transactions called 'purjee' (a purchase order), notifying farmers of sugarcane crushing dates at the local mills, and providing unadulterated fertilisers.

The union also urged the government to introduce digital weighing machines to curb a practice of depriving farmers by showinglow weights of the produce.

Speakers at the human chain said the government raised sugar prices twice in the last six months. Recently, the mill gate price of sugar was raised to Tk 60 a kilogram from Tk 53.

Earlier this year, the price of a kilogram of sugar bythe state run mills was Tk 45.

Ansar Ali Dulal, general secretary of the union, said the government should also increase the prices of sugarcane after it raised sugar prices by Tk 15 in two phases.

He claimed that a maund of sugarcane yields three kilograms of sugar, one and a half kilograms of molasses and 14 kilograms of firewood, adding up to a total value ofTk305-Tk310.

“We want a 60 percent share of the value. For the upcoming crushing season, we demand a price of Tk 150 a maund,” he said.