Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar formally appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, urging immediate federal intervention to resolve the ongoing sugarcane farmer protests across North Karnataka and facilitate the delayed start of the crushing season.
The prolonged agitation has left mature sugarcane standing in fields, exposing farmers to significant financial losses as cane weight and sugar content steadily decline. Demonstrations have intensified, with farmers conducting padayatras towards Hubballi and attempting to gherao the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, leading to reported road blockades in multiple locations. The High Court has since issued directives restricting protests near the minister's home.
Chief Minister Shivakumar himself visited Kittur in Belagavi district on October 17, personally appealing to the protesting cultivators to suspend their foot marches. However, farmers conveyed that their primary grievances fall under the Union Government's jurisdiction and they would not cease their agitation without assurances from the Centre.
Describing the situation as 'grave' due to public order disruptions and hardship caused by blockades, Shivakumar detailed the state's jurisdictional efforts. These include installing digital load cells at all 81 operational sugar mills, closely monitoring sugar recovery and cane weight, and mandating NABL accreditation for recovery-testing laboratories. These measures, he noted, contributed to an increase in average sugar recovery from 9.91 percent in 2022-23 to 11.09 percent in 2025-26. The state government also ensured an additional Rs 100 per tonne over the agreed price for 2025-26, contributing Rs 50 per tonne from its own funds, resulting in approximately Rs 290 crore paid directly to farmers. Despite these efforts, Shivakumar stressed that "the farmers' core demands can be met only by the Government of India."
The Chief Minister specifically requested an upward revision of sugar's Minimum Selling Price (MSP), which has remained static at Rs 31 per kg since February 2019. This stagnation persists even as the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has climbed from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,650 per tonne, making it difficult for mills to offer fair cane prices. He advocated for separate MSPs for domestic and commercial sugar, aiming to shield household consumers while ensuring bulk commercial buyers pay appropriately. Furthermore, Shivakumar urged a review of the exclusion of ethanol produced from sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, and B-heavy molasses from the procurement tender issued by oil marketing companies on October 16 for the 2026-27 ethanol supply year. Karnataka boasts an annual cane-based ethanol production capacity of 225 crore litres, making this exclusion a potential blow to farmers.
While acknowledging the Centre's formation of a committee on October 14 under former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to examine sugar sector issues, Shivakumar emphasized the necessity of urgent decisions. He reiterated the state's full cooperation but highlighted that the ongoing delay in the crushing season demands immediate action even as the committee's work progresses.
Image: sahilonline.org
đŸ“° Source: Sahil Online