KATHMANDU, Aug. 30 -- Talks between the government and sugarcane farmers on Friday at Singha Durbar ended without any consensus, according to Umesh Chandra Yadav, spokesperson for the Sugarcane Farmers' Struggle Committee.

During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari requested the farmers to halt their protest programs temporarily. The committee, however, responded that the movement would continue, although they were open to altering its form.

The farmers demanded a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal. Yadav alleged that although the Ministry of Agriculture had earmarked Rs 2 billion in its annual budget for sugarcane farmer subsidies, the Ministry of Finance blocked the release.

Yadav said the committee would hold a press confe...