Kathmandu – Protesting the government’s decision to cut subsidies on sugarcane, farmers from across the country have begun an indefinite sit-in at Maitighar in the capital from today.

According to Kapilmune Mainali, chairperson of the Nepal Sugarcane Producers Federation, farmers carrying sugarcane stalks arrived in Kathmandu and launched the protest demanding continuation of the subsidy.

The demonstration has seen participation of leading farmers from 13 districts of the Terai–Madhes region, including Sarlahi, Mahottari, Siraha, Rautahat, Bara, Sunsari, Morang, Nawalparasi, and Kanchanpur.

In the last week of Asar, a Cabinet meeting decided to cut the subsidy of 70 rupees per quintal of sugarcane that farmers had been receiving. Although the government had announced 35 rupees per quintal subsidy for the sugarcane crushed last year, this year’s budget has not allocated any subsidy for sugarcane. As a result, it is almost certain that farmers will not receive any subsidy for sugarcane crushed this year either.

Farmers had been receiving subsidies on sugarcane since 2009 (2066 BS). However, the government not only excluded subsidies in the current fiscal year’s budget, it has also failed to distribute the remaining subsidy from last year’s crushed sugarcane. Farmers from Sarlahi alone are yet to receive 373.99 million rupees.

Farmers say the decision to cut subsidies has forced hundreds of thousands of them to consider abandoning sugarcane farming. They have demanded that the government continue the 70 rupees per quintal subsidy.