Mysuru farmers raise questions over Belagavi sugarcane prices

The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association has registered its protest against the sugarcane prices announced in Belagavi district. According to a report by The Hindu, Public Works Department Minister and Belagavi district in-charge Minister Satish Jarjiholi has announced the sugarcane price at ₹3,600 per tonne, which is lower than the prices being offered by some sugar factories in the district.

Association President Kurubur Shantakumar stated in a press conference on Wednesday that while some sugar factories in Belagavi have voluntarily announced a sugarcane price of ₹4,000 per tonne, Minister Jarjiholi has fixed it at ₹3,600 per tonne. He alleged that this move is against the interests of the farmers and is an attempt to mislead the farmers' movement.

The association has requested the state government to implement the State Advisory Price (SAP) based on the Rangarajan Committee report. This report recommends that sugar factories should share a portion of the income derived from by-products with the farmers. Additionally, the association has demanded a revision of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), especially for sugarcane farmers in the Cauvery belt.

A delegation of farmers met Sugar and Textiles Minister Rudrappa Lamani in Bengaluru last week during a protest demonstration. They requested a meeting with the Chief Minister before 20 November to discuss the implementation of SAP and the revision of FRP.

Shantakumar further alleged that many sugar factories in Mysuru and Mandya districts are not providing proper prices to the farmers. After deducting the costs of harvesting, transportation, and labour, the factories are paying the farmers only ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 per tonne. Considering the low yield in the Cauvery belt, a demand has been made to increase the price to ₹4,000 to ₹4,500 per tonne. Along with this, there is also a demand to take steps to prevent irregularities in the weighing of sugarcane in factories, a matter about which the farmers' delegation has previously submitted a representation to the district administration.

Farmers have also expressed concern regarding the fluctuations in labour costs during sugarcane harvesting. There are allegations that some sugar factories have increased the labour cost from ₹500 in June to ₹1,000 in November. It has been alleged that farmers are being exploited due to the lack of a mechanism to regulate labour costs. Some farmers, citing the ₹600 subsidy price provided by the Tamil Nadu government, have requested the state government to announce an additional subsidy price of ₹1,000 per tonne.

A seminar is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on 16 November, in which sugarcane farmers from various parts of the country will participate. It is likely that farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat will also participate in this seminar to discuss sugarcane prices and the compensation received by farmers. The association has also requested the government to nominate a farmer to the Legislative Council and has submitted a representation to the Governor in this regard.

The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association is an organisation working to protect the interests of farmers. It works through continuous dialogue and movements with the government regarding farmers' rights and sugarcane prices.