Tadakod: As the ongoing foot march by sugarcane growers entered its second day, Eranna Baraker of Tadakod has appealed to both the State and Central governments to respond with compassion and immediately address the farmers’ long-pending demands.
In a statement, Baraker said the sight of farmers continuing their march despite painful blisters, physical exhaustion and mounting financial distress reflects the depth of the agrarian crisis. While sugarcane remains unharvested in the fields, many farmers are simultaneously struggling under the burden of debt. Yet, they have chosen the path of peaceful democratic protest in pursuit of justice, he noted.
He said the sacrifices made by women participating in the protest are particularly moving. Leaving their children and families behind, they are spending nights in the open and walking long distances under the scorching sun. Such determination, he said, should not be ignored by any government.
“This is not a protest for financial gain; it is a struggle for survival,” Baraker stated. He pointed out that sugarcane prices have remained largely stagnant for nearly nine years, while the cost of cultivation—including fertilisers, diesel and other essential agricultural inputs—has risen sharply, pushing farming families into severe hardship.
Despite these challenges, the protesting farmers have conducted themselves peacefully without disrupting public life, demonstrating remarkable restraint and responsibility, he added.
Appealing to the governments, Baraker said, “As a daily wage worker, I fold my hands before both the State and Central governments. Please understand the tears of our farmers and fulfil their legitimate demands without further delay. If the farmer survives, the agricultural labourer survives, and the nation’s food security remains protected.”
He urged the authorities to hold immediate talks with the protesting farmers and ensure a fair and lasting resolution to their grievances.
