The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association has criticized Public Works Department Minister and Belagavi district in-charge Satish Jarkiholi for announcing a sugarcane price of ₹3,600 per tonne, asserting that this figure is lower than the rates voluntarily offered by several local sugar factories. Speaking at a press conference in Mysuru on Wednesday, Association President Kurubur Shanthakumar stated that while some factories in Belagavi had set the price at ₹4,000 per tonne, the minister’s announcement undermined the interests of growers and sought to mislead the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
The association has urged the state government to implement the State Advisory Price (SAP) as recommended by the Rangarajan Committee report, which suggests that sugar factories share a portion of their by-product revenue with farmers. Additionally, the group is seeking a revision of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), particularly for growers in the Cauvery belt. Shanthakumar noted that a delegation of farmers met Sugar and Textile Minister Rudrappa Lamani in Bengaluru last week, urging him to convene a meeting with the Chief Minister before November 20 to discuss SAP implementation and FRP revisions.
Shanthakumar alleged that sugar factories in Mysuru and Mandya districts are not offering remunerative prices, with farmers receiving only ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 per tonne after deducting costs for cutting, transportation, and labor. Citing low yields in the Cauvery belt, he argued that prices should be raised to ₹4,000–₹4,500 per tonne and demanded measures to prevent irregularities in sugarcane weighing. A delegation had previously submitted a representation to the district administration regarding these issues. Growers have also expressed concern over fluctuating labor charges, alleging that some factories increased costs from ₹500 in June to ₹1,000 in November due to the lack of a regulatory mechanism. Some farmers have further urged the state government to announce an additional support price of ₹1,000 per tonne, citing the ₹600 support price provided by the Tamil Nadu government.
A national seminar on sugarcane pricing and farmer returns is scheduled for November 16 in Bengaluru, with participation expected from growers in Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. The association has also called on the government to nominate a farmer to the Legislative Council, a representation that has already been submitted to the governor.
