Belagavi Sugarcane Talks Inconclusive; Minister Vows to Resolve Pricing Deadlock
Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi holds talks in Belagavi to resolve the pricing deadlock between sugarcane growers and sugar mill owners.
The high-stakes negotiations to resolve the pricing crisis between sugarcane growers and sugar mill operators in Belagavi have ended their first round without a breakthrough. Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who presided over the discussions, informed reporters that while a final decision remains elusive, the government is committed to finding a middle ground and will resume talks immediately.
Negotiations Stretch into Second Day
The preliminary meeting in Belagavi saw a diverse group of stakeholders, including sugarcane producers, factory owners, and representatives from Maharashtra’s Shetkari Sanghatana. Despite the formal dialogue, the conflicting interests of the two primary parties—the farmers and the mill owners—prevented a definitive agreement.
"A meeting was held with sugar factory owners and farmers’ representatives to discuss their respective demands. However, no final decision was reached," Minister Jarkiholi stated. "The meeting is not over today; we will hold a meeting tomorrow too. We will try to conclude the meeting tomorrow to resolve the issue."
The Core of the Conflict
Minister Jarkiholi highlighted that the grievances of the farmers are fundamentally different from the concerns of the factory owners. While the discussions have centered heavily on the price of cane, the Minister clarified that there has been no discussion regarding SIP at this stage.
The tension is further complicated by the involvement of the Karnataka factory owners association and unions, who met on Tuesday to discuss the demand for an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP). These meetings are being conducted under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner (DC).
Farmer Demands and Growing Unrest
The crisis has already spilled over into public protests. On October 31, farmers in Mandya staged a black flag protest against Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, leading to several protesters being taken into police custody.
The farmer activists, represented by figures such as Prem Chougala, General Secretary of Karnataka Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene, have put forward three primary demands:
- State Support: A support price of Rs 1,000 per tonne from the state government.
- Factory Pricing: A price of Rs 4,500 per tonne from the sugar factories.
- Fair Weighing: Immediate action to stop alleged malpractices where deductions are made for moss or muck during the weighing process.
A Complex Regulatory Battle
Beyond the immediate price per tonne, the dispute involves a wider struggle between farmers, mill owners, the Karnataka state government, and the Central government. Farmers from various sugarcane-growing districts have also pushed for a sugar MSP increase to Rs 60 and have demanded a 100 per cent ethanol allocation for Karnataka from oil marketing companies.
Minister Jarkiholi admitted that the timeline for a resolution remains uncertain, noting that the government cannot unilaterally dictate the terms as the dialogue is primarily between the unions and the factory owners' association. However, he warned of the consequences of failure, stating, "If the MSP is not increased, people will face a lot of difficulties."