Hyderabad, Mar 8 (UNI) The Kisan Cell of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee today urged Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to rescue lakhs of sugarcane growers in the state from private sugar factory owners, who were not paying even the minimum prices to them.

Kisan Cell Chairman M Kodanada Reddy, in a statement here said though the sugarcane growing area and the crushing capacity had increased due to progressive policies implemented by the state gobvernment, there was no improvement in the conditions of cane growers.

Stating that private sugar factories were amassing huge profits and depriving the growers of their due share in the profits, he urged the government to directly pay the purchase tax to sugarcane growers by cheque as private sugar factories were including it in the price paid by them and not passing on the credit to the growers.

He said jaggery should be procured by Market Federation and supplied to distilleries at reasonable and fair price, as was practiced earlier.

The Kisan cell chairman said import of sugarcane from neighbouring states should be stopped forthwith and the cane cultivated by farmers should be purchased by sugar factories.

UNI