Protest threatened against delay in sugarcane crushing season.

PESHAWAR -- The sugarcane growers have warned that they will stage protest outside the provincial assembly's building in Peshawar and block the main Indus Highway on Nov 29 against delay in the crushing season.

Kisan Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Rizwanullah Khan told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday that the sugarcane crushing season usually began on Oct 15 under the relevant law but it was extended until Nov 1 through an amendment to the law.

He however said the millers in connivance with the government had delayed the crushing season, which seemed to begin next month to the misery of farmers.

He feared that the situation could delay the cultivation of wheat crop in the province.

Growers also demand higher price for crop

Mr Rizwan also demanded that the crushing season begin without delay and the sugarcane price be fixed at Rs250 per 40kg.

Accompanied by Kisan Board provincial senior vice-president Haji Abdul Akbar Khan, general secretary Abdul Samad and former minister Hafiz Hashmat Khan, he blamed most problems of the farmers on the absence of agricultural policy in the province.

The farmer leader said the price of sugarcane was fixed at Rs180 per 40kg during the last season, which was...