HYDERABAD, Dec 7: The Sindh Abadgar Tahreek has decided to launch a protest movement against owners of sugar mills for their alleged “anti-grower policies”. The decision was taken at a meeting of its central committee held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Ghulam Mustafa Laghari.

It observed that right from day one the sugar mills had adopted anti-grower policies and refused to pay outstanding dues of tens of millions of rupees.

It pointed out that during the current season the mill owners had refused to pay Rs67 per 40kg of sugarcane fixed by the government.

They also alleged that the policies of the government were destroying the agrarian economy of the country.

The meeting warned that if the government failed to implement its notification with regards to the fixed price of sugarcane, the farming community would not only resort to protest but would also stop cultivating the cane and opt for some other crop.

It demanded that water shortage should be removed forthwith, agricultural loans should be waived and the auction of lands should be stopped.