After talks with sugar mill owners and farmer representatives on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that farmers would be paid ₹3,300 per tonne of sugarcane, with sugar mills contributing ₹3,250 and the state government contributing ₹50.
Sugarcane farmers in key districts of north Karnataka, including Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapura, called off their nine-day agitation on Friday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a revised price of ₹3,300 per tonne, including payments from sugar mills and state subsidy.The protests, which disrupted traffic and drew widespread attention to farmers’ grievances, ended peacefully after government intervention.
Farmers were demanding a minimum fair and remunerative price (FRP) of ₹3,500 per tonne, prompt settlement from mills and policy reforms to deal with rising farming costs due to irregular monsoon. A spokesperson for the Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association in Belagavi said, “The announcement addresses our immediate concerns, and we are suspending the protest.”
Protesters had blocked highways and staged sit-ins outside sugar mills, highlighting financial stress from payment delays and unpredictable weather patterns that have hit yields this season.Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the ₹3,300 per tonne package as a balanced solution.
After talks with sugar mill owners and farmer representatives on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that farmers would be paid ₹3,300 per tonne of sugarcane, with sugar mills contributing ₹3,250 and the state government contributing ₹50. This price will be based on 11.25% sugar recovery. At the meeting, mill owners agreed to pay ₹3,200 per tonne for cane with 11.25% yield. The state government and mill owners have decided to add ₹50 each in additional payment, taking the total amount to ₹3,300 per tonne.
The protesting farmers have accepted the state government’s offer and have agreed to withdraw their protest, calling it a victory for the farmers’ movement. Sugarcane farmers in the state were demanding a price hike and were demanding ₹3,500 per tonne.
farmer leader Raju ShettyThe president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan, who is playing an important role in the movement, said rural voice That the farmers have given an ultimatum to the government to take a decision by 8 am. During Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with sugar mill owners yesterday, the mills refused to increase the prices. After this message reached the farmers, they blocked the Pune-Bengaluru highway today. The government later decided to give a price of Rs 3,300 per tonne.
It is noteworthy that farmers in Karnataka were getting relatively low prices and this movement started due to the indifference of the government. This movement resulted in increase in the prices of sugarcane. The sugarcane belt of Karnataka borders Maharashtra, which is considered important. Raju Shetty, a two-time MP from Maharashtra’s Hatkanangle, has continuously campaigned for sugarcane farmers in the state. He also has influence in the sugarcane belt of Karnataka bordering Maharashtra.
