Sugarcane farmers ink five-point deal with govt

KATHMANDU: Agitating sugarcane farmers have reached a five-point agreement with the government on Friday evening.

As per the agreement in the talks held in presence of Minister for Industry Lekhraj Bhatta, the ministry will coordinate so that industries pay the due amount to farmers within January 21.

With the agreement, sugarcane farmers from Sarlahi have called off their protest.

Several sugar mills owe approximately Rs 1.40 billion in dues to the farmers. The farmers have also not got the Rs 1.34 billion subsidies that the government provides them through the mills.

Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill and Annapurna Sugar Mill of Sarlahi, Shree Ram Sugar Mill of Rautahat, Everest Sugar Mill of Mahottari, Himalayan Sugar Mill of Siraha, Bagmati Sugar Mill of Nawalparasi owe large sums of money to farmers.