Karnataka CM Urges PM Modi to Intervene as Sugarcane Protests Stall Crushing Season
CM DK Shivakumar urges PM Modi to intervene as sugarcane protests delay the crushing season in North Karnataka, risking crop loss.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent federal intervention to resolve a growing crisis involving sugarcane farmers in North Karnataka. The unrest has led to widespread protests and road blockades, effectively delaying the start of the sugarcane crushing season and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.
Protests Escalate in North Karnataka
The situation has intensified with farmers organizing padayatras from various towns toward Hubballi. Their objective is to gherao the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. While the High Court has issued directions to restrain the protests at the Minister's residence, the tension remains high across the region.
Chief Minister Shivakumar, who visited Kittur in the Belagavi district on October 17, attempted to persuade the farmers to end their agitation. However, the farmers remained steadfast, stating that their primary grievances fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of India and will not be settled without a direct assurance from the Center.
"The situation is grave. Owing to these protests, the crushing season has not commenced in North Karnataka. Mature sugarcane remains standing in the fields, and every day of delay results in a loss of cane weight and sugar content," the Chief Minister stated in his letter.
State Government’s Efforts to Support Farmers
The Chief Minister highlighted several steps the Karnataka government has already taken to protect farmers' interests:
- Digital Weighing: To prevent irregularities, all 81 operational mills have transitioned from analogue to digital load cells following a Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Legal Metrology Department.
- Rigorous Inspection: District-level teams have been formed to inspect cane weight and sugar recovery at every mill at least twice a month for the 2025-26 season.
- Improved Recovery: These measures have seen average sugar recovery increase from 9.91% in 2022-23 to 11.09% in 2025-26.
- Financial Aid: The State Government ensured an additional Rs 100 per tonne over the mills' agreed price, with the state bearing Rs 50 per tonne. This has resulted in approximately Rs 290 crore being paid directly to farmers.
Five Critical Demands for the Central Government
While welcoming the formation of a Union Government committee led by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, CM Shivakumar emphasized that some decisions cannot wait for the committee's final report. He has urged the Prime Minister to take immediate action on the following five points:
1. Revision of Sugar MSP
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar has remained stagnant at Rs 31 per kg since February 14, 2019. In contrast, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) has climbed from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,650 per tonne. The CM argued that mills cannot pay farmers a fair price if the sugar MSP remains frozen at 2019 levels.
2. Dual MSP System
The state is proposing separate MSPs for domestic and commercial sugar. This would ensure that household consumers are protected from price hikes while bulk commercial buyers pay a fair market price.
3. Ethanol Procurement Review
A major point of contention is the tender issued on October 16 by oil marketing companies for the 2026-27 supply year. The tender excludes ethanol produced from sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, and B-heavy molasses, allowing only C-heavy molasses. With Karnataka possessing a cane-based ethanol capacity of 225 crore litres per annum, this exclusion could severely hit mill revenues and delay payments to farmers.
The Chief Minister warned that the continuing road blockades are not only harming the agricultural economy but are also disrupting public order and causing significant hardship to the general public.