The Maharashtra government is likely to take the crucial decision on revising sugarcane prices in the State at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Because of inflation and higher input cost, lakhs of sugarcane farmers across the Atate have been agitating for higher cane prices.

Member of Parliament from Kolhapur and President of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Mr Raju Shetti, has been leading the farmers. Since Monday, he is on an indefinite fast at Baramati town near Pune, seeking rate of Rs 2,350 a tonne for 2011-12 season.

Over the past few years, Mr Shetti has been pointing to the various lacunas in the method used by the State government for arriving at a ‘fixed price' for sugarcane.

The Maharashtra Minister for Cooperation, Mr Harshvardhan Patil, told reporters at the State Secretariat that the government is keen to find a middle path in terms of prices. “Per tonne price will lie somewhere between Rs 1,450 (government fixed price) and Rs 2,350 as demanded by the farmers. The Cabinet will take a view on the matter,” he said.

Mr Patil warned that if the agitation extends, then the migrant workers, who are used by the farmers for cutting sugarcane, may go back to their homes, creating massive labour shortage, he said.

“This agitation will only further delay the harvesting of sugarcane. Next season farmers may not have space to replant sugarcane in their fields due to uncut sugarcane standing in their fields from the previous season,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena delegation led by its Executive President, Mr Uddhav Thackeray, met the Chief Minister today and extended support to the farmers' demand. Mr Thackeray warned that his party would also join the agitation if the demands of the farmer are not met.

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