Union Minister for Education, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Saturday (October 17) urged protesting sugarcane farmers to suspend their agitation and return home to celebrate the festival, promising them that the Centre was sympathetically considering their demands.

Speaking to press persons in Hubballi, Mr. Joshi said a committee constituted to examine the farmers’ demands could arrive within four to five days if the farmers cooperated.

Mr. Joshi said the Narendra Modi-led government was purchasing several agricultural commodities at the minimum support price despite the challenges involved, besides 120 crore litres of ethanol, including ethanol produced from sugarcane, he said. However, he pointed out that the government could not purchase all the ethanol produced.

On the demand for a State Advisory Price (SAP), Mr. Joshi said he had urged former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to announce the SAP last year and held discussions with incumbent D.K. Shivakumar and assured him of the Centre’s support in addressing issues of weighing and sugar recovery. He urged the State government to announce the SAP.

At the same time, he said, any decision should not impose an undue burden on consumers.