Shivakumar Mediates Karnataka Sugarcane Price Dispute in Belagavi

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar traveled to Belagavi on October 26 to mediate a pricing dispute between sugarcane farmers and sugar mill owners. Farmers, led by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, blocked state highways in areas such as Gurlapur, demanding prices between Rs 5,500 and Rs 6,000 per tonne and a government subsidy of Rs 1,000 per tonne. They argue the Central government's Fair and Remunerative Price of Rs 365 per quintal is insufficient to cover rising cultivation costs.

During meetings at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar urged mill owners to address grower grievances while acknowledging industry struggles with ethanol tariffs, banking issues, and electricity costs. He noted that while the state government previously pressured factories to pay an additional Rs 250 per tonne, some mills have challenged this in court. Shivakumar warned farmers that delaying cane crushing could lead to crops being sent to Maharashtra, which would harm both growers and the state.

Shivakumar stated that a permanent resolution requires the Union government to increase the sugar Minimum Support Price, as factory owners are unlikely to agree to higher payments otherwise. He announced that a Central Government committee is scheduled to visit Karnataka on October 29. A final decision will follow that visit and further consultations with officials and the Maharashtra Chief Minister. Despite these talks, farmer leaders threatened a Karnataka Bandh on October 27 if concrete decisions are not reached.