Kathmandu, Aug 30: Sugarcane farmers from across the country, who have been staging demonstrations in the capital since August 24 demanding subsidies and other government support, have warned of an indefinite blockade along the national highway in Hariwan, Sarlahi, starting September 10, if their concerns continue to be ignored.

“We have been protesting in Kathmandu for the past week, but the government has paid no attention. Since our voices are being ignored, we are now prepared to intensify our agitation,” said protest coordinator Shyam Babu Ray. He added that some farmers had fallen ill after braving heavy rains during the sit-in. “We are not here to seek donations or charity. We pay taxes even from the sugar produced from our sugarcane,” he stressed.

The protest, organized under the leadership of the Sugarcane Producers Federation of Nepal, aims to pressure the government not to cut subsidies meant for sugarcane farmers. The farmers have accused the government of deliberately slashing subsidy amounts and have also demanded representation in the process of determining sugarcane prices.