Balaghat sugarcane farmers protest for price support similar to Maharashtra

Sugarcane farmers in Balaghat district have continued their protest demanding prices as per the package price scheme implemented in Maharashtra, according to a report by The Hindu. Farmers from Mudhol, Balaghat, and Jamkhandi are seeking Maharashtra-based package prices for their produce. This package includes a base price of ₹3,900 per tonne in the first stage, an additional ₹100 for sugarcane in the second stage, and a ₹200 increase if wholesale sugar prices exceed ₹45 per kg.

The protesters gathered at the Sangoli Rayanna Circle in Mudhol and raised slogans against sugar factories and the state government. Farmer leader Irappa Hanchinal stated that they are not making unreasonable demands, but their demands are based on proper calculations. He further added that if factory owners are making profits, farmers should also receive a share of the profit. Hanchinal stated that farmers will not withdraw until they receive an assurance of prices between ₹4,200 to ₹4,250 per tonne for sugarcane.

On the other hand, farmers in Vijayapura are also demanding a price of ₹3,600 per tonne and the implementation of the profit-sharing formula agreed upon in Belagavi across the entire state. In Belagavi, Ganesh Iligar and other leaders submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner's office on Tuesday, demanding action against factories that have not been paying long-pending dues. Out of 29 factories in Belagavi district, 12 factories have issued circulars stating they will follow the profit-sharing formula. Some sugar factories have also offered prices higher than the agreed rates.

Bedakihal's Venkateshwar Sugar Factory has promised prices up to ₹4,200, which includes a base price of ₹3,900 in the first stage and ₹4,200 per tonne if the sugar price exceeds ₹45 per kg. Kagwad's Shiraguppi Sugars has promised ₹3,700 in the first stage, followed by ₹100 for sugarcane and ₹200 per tonne if the sugar price exceeds ₹45 per kg. These factories include Satish Sugars and Belagavi Sugars, owned by Minister Satish Jarikholi; Inamdar Sugars, owned by family members of former minister D.B. Inamdar; Harsha Sugars, owned by the Hebbalkar family; as well as Gudagunti Sugars, Gokak Sugars, Shri Renuka Sugars, Chidanand Kore Cooperative Factory, and EID Parry unit. Other factories have not yet declared their rate lists.

Farmer leader Channappa Pujari told The Hindu on Tuesday that factories are likely to pay more than ₹3,600, as they are concerned that farmers from border talukas such as Chikkodi, Nippani, Raibag, Kagwad, Athani, and Huqqeri might divert their crops to factories in Maharashtra. Due to the price difference of ₹300 to ₹600 per tonne between factories in the two states, there is a possibility that farmers from border talukas may divert their production to Maharashtra. Pujari stated that farmers might hold onto their stocks instead of losing their crops to Maharashtra.