Hubballi Chalo padayatra by sugarcane farmers likely to end today

Sugarcane farmers are likely to temporarily withdraw their Hubballi Chalo padayatra on Monday, the sixth day of the agitation for better prices for sugarcane.

The agitation is likely to resume after a farmers rally in New Delhi on October 23, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

“Senior leaders will take a decision about a pan-India protest for better sugarcane prices, at the Delhi rally. Once a signal is received from there, we will resume the agitation,” one of the farmers leaders said.

Some of the leaders who are participating in the rally held a meeting near Tegur village on the border of Belagavi and Dharwad districts and discussed this issue.

Some of them said that the farmers have been away from their fields since October 13 and the sugarcane crop is drying due to lack of rainfall and lack of corrective irrigation.

Others said that the messages sent by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have to be taken to the villages and feedback obtained from more farmers.

Mr. Shivakumar assured farmers in Kittur on Saturday that he will convene a meeting of farmers, factory owners and officers next week. He agreed to consider the demand for a State Advised Price of ₹1,000 per tonne of sugarcane supplied.

Some farmers leaders said that the Central panel set up to look into Minimum Selling Price for sugar and Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane has to be given some time.

The leaders decided to announce a temporary halt to the padayatra on Monday, only to resume it next week. The announcement is likely to be made on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, the farmers gave a deadline to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi till Sunday evening to announce a decision on revising MSP and FRP.

“We decided to withdraw the agitation if the Union government sent a message but, we have not got any message,” farmers leader Chunappa Pujeri told reporters.

Meanwhile, the former MLA Srimant Patil, who is also the chairman of a sugar factory, said that he is in support of the protesting farmers.

“It is the first time in over three decades that I am seeing farmers taking out a rally in support of sugar factories. I am a farmer first and a factory chairman later. I know the problems of both. However, the demand of farmers for higher MSP for sugar is not only in their interest but also in the interest of factories. Farmers and factories have a symbiotic relationship. Both need each other to survive. Only a higher MSP for sugar and increased market access to factories will help both,” he said.