States » SouthPosted at: Oct 23 2026 7:09PM


Ashoka urges govt to resolve sugarcane farmers’ crisis

Bengaluru, Oct 23 (UNI) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka has urged the state government to take immediate steps to resolve the problems faced by sugarcane growers, as demands for higher cane prices, better returns and timely payments continue to put pressure on the state’s sugar industry.
The appeal comes ahead of a proposed meeting on October 26 between Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, sugarcane farmers and sugar factory representatives in Belagavi to discuss the growers’ demands.
Sugarcane farmers are demanding a price of Rs 5,500 per tonne, against the Centre’s fair and remunerative price (FRP) of Rs 3,650 per tonne for the 2026-27 sugar season. They have also sought an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar from Rs 31 to Rs 60 per kg.
The agitation, which had spread across parts of north Karnataka and disrupted traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, was temporarily suspended on October 19 following talks between farmer leaders and union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Hubballi. The farmers have given the Centre until November 26 to respond to their demands and warned of renewed protests if a resolution is not reached.
Apart from higher cane prices, growers have demanded greater transparency in sugar recovery calculations and cane weighment, an end to deductions from payments and the settlement of outstanding dues by sugar factories. Farmers contend that rising cultivation costs have made the existing price inadequate to sustain their livelihoods.
The dispute also involves the economics of sugar production. Chief Minister Shivakumar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revise the minimum selling price of sugar, introduce separate prices for domestic and commercial consumption, review ethanol procurement rules and revise prices for cane-based ethanol. He has argued that stagnant sugar prices and restrictions on ethanol procurement affect mills’ ability to pay growers remuneratively and on time.
Meanwhile, the state government has taken steps to improve transparency in sugar mills, including the installation of digital load cells at all 81 operational mills and inspections of cane weight and sugar recovery. Shivakumar has also cited an increase in average sugar recovery from 9.91 per cent in 2022-23 to 11.09 per cent in 2025-26.
With the crushing season approaching, the proposed October 26 meeting is expected to be crucial in determining the state government’s response to the farmers’ demands. The broader dispute will also require the Centre to consider the pricing and ethanol policy changes sought by growers and the state government.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Ashoka urges govt to resolve sugarcane farmers’ crisis
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