Crushing delayed, farmers resort to road blockade

According to the farmers who gathered in front of the Kurunkulam Arignar Anna Sugar factory on Saturday, the actual crushing used to commence from the month of October usually. However, the factory authorities delayed the process this year, they charged, adding that they allowed crushing only in the third week of December.

Coupled with the delay, another factor that affected the local agriculturists was the farmers from outside, who harvested their crop in late November, bringing their produce to the factory for crushing, said Ramanathan, the president of the sugarcane farmers association. Due to this, several loads of sugarcane was stagnated, which has resulted in a heavy loss to the local farmers, Ramanathan added.

After gathering near the factory, the farmers took to the road as part of the protest. They parked several loads of sugarcane and blocked the Thanjavur-Pudukkottai road. On information, the local police and officials from the factory held talks and pacified the protesting farmers.

Following the assurance from the authorities, they finally relented and dispersed from the spot.