States » SouthPosted at: Sep 30 2026 11:15AM


Sugarcane farmers step up stir in Hubballi, demand Rs 5,500 per tonne

Hubballi, Sept 30 (UNI) Sugarcane farmers stepped up their agitation against the Centre here, rejecting union Minister Pralhad Joshi's call for talks in Delhi and demanding that the cane price for the 2026-27 crushing season be fixed at Rs 5,500 a tonne.
Thousands of farmers from Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra gathered at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle on Tuesday under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene, turning the protest into a major show of strength.
Farmers from Dharwad, Belagavi and other districts participated, while members of Maharashtra-based Shetkari Sanghatana led by Raju Shetti joined the agitation.
The protesters' principal demand is a sharp increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane. They also demanded that the minimum selling price of sugar be raised from Rs 31 to Rs 60 a kg and sought an additional Rs 300 a tonne for cane supplied during the 2025-26 season.
The farmers also demanded implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, 100 per cent procurement of ethanol from Karnataka producers, approval for the Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project and complete waiver of farm loans.
KRRS and Hasiru Sene state president Chunnappa Pujari said the cost of cultivating a tonne of sugarcane had risen to around Rs 4,500, with input and cultivation expenses having nearly tripled between 2019 and 2026.
He demanded that the cane price be fixed on the basis of estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
The agitation intensified after Joshi, who represents Dharwad in the Lok Sabha, appealed to the farmers to come to Delhi for discussions rather than protest in Hubballi.
"There is no need for you to protest or sit on the streets. If you come to Delhi, we will hold discussions with you," Joshi said on X.
Joshi said farmer representatives had met him in February seeking an increase in the FRP and that the Centre had raised it to Rs 365 a quintal in May. He said the FRP was decided after consultations involving the Centre, the state government and the Cane Commissioner.
According to a PIB release, the estimated production cost of sugarcane for 2026-27 is Rs 182 a quintal, against the FRP of Rs 365, which is 100.5 per cent above the estimated cost.
The farmers, however, rejected the Delhi invitation. Agitation leader Shashikant Guruji said Joshi should instead come to the protest site and hear their demands.
The protesters had planned to lay siege to Joshi's Hubballi office but shifted to Nehru Maidan after police denied permission. They subsequently marched towards his residence, prompting deployment of more than 250 police personnel and erection of barricades.
Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner visited the protest site and held talks with Pujari. The agitation also disrupted traffic on several major roads, with vehicles reportedly stranded in long queues.
Karnataka cultivates sugarcane on around 7.5 lakh hectares and produces nearly 630 lakh tonnes annually. About 576 lakh tonnes are crushed by 89 factories, producing close to 50 lakh tonnes of sugar. Belagavi accounts for the highest number of sugar factories in the state, with 29.
While the Centre fixes the FRP, Karnataka has not been announcing a State Advisory Price. Farmers said drought and deficient rainfall had added to the pressure on the crop this year.
KRRS secretary Vidyasagar also alleged that fertiliser prices had increased and said several promises made to farmers, including doubling their incomes, remained unfulfilled.
The agitation was continuing at the protest site.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Sugarcane farmers step up stir in Hubballi# demand Rs 5#500 per tonne
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