Sugarcane farmers in Belagavi have stated they will immediately withdraw their padayatra and return to their fields if the Union government provides a clear assurance that their demands will be met. The protesters, acting under the banners of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, are seeking a sugarcane price of Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 per tonne and an increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar to Rs 60 per kg. They have also demanded that the Centre ensure the purchase of the entire quantity of ethanol produced by sugar factories without discrimination.
The agitation began after farmers blocked traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway for more than 30 hours from Tuesday. The highway was obstructed at the Kognoli checkpost in Nippani taluk, the Hattargi toll plaza in Hukkeri taluk, and the Hirebagewadi toll plaza in Belagavi taluk, halting all traffic movement through the district. Following a lack of response from the Centre, the farmers launched a padayatra from the Hattargi toll plaza on Wednesday evening. After two days, the march reached the vicinity of Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi taluk, and on Friday, the third day of the march, the protesters resumed their journey towards M K Hubli in Channammana Kittur taluk.
In addition to the primary price demands, the farmers are calling for an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane and the implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations. Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi announced on Wednesday evening that a committee would be formed to address the growers’ demands. However, the farmers rejected waiting for the committee’s report, insisting that the Centre announce its decision immediately. The protesters have also laid siege to the residence of Minister Joshi in Hubballi as part of their pressure tactics.
Speaking to reporters near Suvarna Vidhan Soudha on Friday, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene state president Chunappa Pujeri emphasized that the farmers would call off the protest as soon as the Union Minister provided an assurance. He noted that while fuel and fertiliser prices had increased threefold over the past decade, sugarcane prices and the sugar MSP had not risen proportionately, forcing farmers into annual disputes with sugar factories and resulting in significant losses. Pujeri alleged that elected representatives had failed to support the farmers and that the Union government treated them as enemies, stressing that the protesters had no political affiliations. He warned that sugarcane is drying up amid drought conditions and urged the Centre to address their demands at the earliest.
The farmers have also sought support from the state government. Pujeri demanded that the state provide an additional support price of Rs 1,000 per tonne of sugarcane and urged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to convene a meeting with sugar factory managements to discuss their demands. He warned that the farmers would launch another protest if the state government failed to act.
