Belagavi sugarcane farmers end week-long protest after agreeing to ₹3,600 per tonne

A week-long protest by sugarcane farmers in Belagavi concluded on Wednesday night following a meeting with factory owners, resulting in a temporary agreement to pay ₹3,600 per tonne for the crop. This rate is approximately ₹50 higher than last year’s price, and the 29 sugar factories in Belagavi district are expected to commence crushing operations on Thursday. District in-charge Minister and sugar factory owner Satish Jarkiholi stated that the agreed price applies only to mills within Belagavi district and is conditional on factories paying more if the Union government revises sugar or sugarcane prices. He noted that while rain-fed and irrigated farmers face different challenges, all types of farmers attended the meeting and reached a common understanding. Jarkiholi emphasized that this is a temporary solution to a multi-dimensional problem, as issues regarding the Minimum Selling Price of sugar and the Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane remain under the jurisdiction of the Union government. He added that the State government may review the State Advised Price for sugarcane after one year and urged farmers to understand that the financial conditions of private, government, and cooperative factories differ.