Sugarcane farmers threaten highway blockade from October 13

The Karnataka Sugarcane Farmers' Union and Green Brigade have declared an indefinite highway blockade from October 13 if demands of sugarcane growers are not met during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on October 12. At a press conference in Kalaburagi, the organization's State working president, Maheshgowda Subedar, announced that the protest would escalate if the meeting did not produce a positive response.

The farmers have demanded a minimum support price of ₹5,500 per tonne for sugarcane at a recovery rate of 9.25%, with payment within 14 days of harvesting, and a 15% interest rate on delayed payments. They also want sugar mills to cover harvesting and transportation costs and stop charging farmers an additional ₹8,000 to ₹10,000.

Subedar suggested installing digital weighing machines at all APMCs to prevent discrepancies in sugarcane weighment and called for the inclusion of by-products' revenue in determining the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP). The organization also requested the implementation of a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane in Karnataka, similar to incentives provided to farmers in other states.

If the meeting on October 12 fails to address these demands, the farmers and sugarcane growers will initiate an indefinite highway blockade at district headquarters across the state beginning October 13.