Sugarcane farmers threaten highway blockade from October 13

The Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Green Brigade have threatened an indefinite blockade of national highways at all district headquarters across Karnataka from October 13 if the demands of sugarcane growers are not addressed at a high-level meeting convened by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on October 12.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on Friday, the organisation’s State working president, Maheshgowda Subedar, said the agitation would be intensified if the meeting failed to yield a favourable response.

The organisation has demanded a minimum support price of ₹5,500 a tonne for sugarcane at a recovery rate of 9.25%. It has also sought payment within 14 days of harvesting, with 15% interest on delayed payments, and demanded that sugar mills bear harvesting and transportation costs.

Mr. Subedar demanded that sugar mills bear the harvesting and transportation costs and put an end to harvesting workers collecting an additional ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 from farmers. He said sugar mills should bear the labour costs if the existing practice continued.

He called for the installation of digital weighing machines at all APMCs to prevent discrepancies in sugarcane weighment after harvesting.

Pointing out that sugar mills and the government earned revenue from by-products such as ethanol, molasses, bagasse and electricity, he said the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) should not be determined solely on the basis of sugar prices but should take into account revenue from all by-products.

The organisation also sought implementation of a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane in Karnataka, on the lines of incentives provided to farmers in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

It further demanded that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), in consultation with the Agriculture and Horticulture departments, assess the actual cost of cultivation of all crops, including land rent and interest on irrigation loans, while recommending remunerative prices.

Mr. Subedar said the October 12 meeting at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi should address the farmers’ demands. Otherwise, the organisation, along with sugarcane growers, would launch an indefinite highway blockade at all district headquarters across the State from October 13.