Bengaluru: Thousands of sugarcane farmers across Karnataka staged protests against the Union and State governments, demanding a minimum price of ₹5,500 per tonne for sugarcane and other concessions. The agitation disrupted traffic on major highways across several districts, leaving vehicles stranded for kilometres and causing inconvenience to commuters.
The protests spread across Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Haveri and Dharwad, as well as Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Farmers blocked key roads and staged overnight demonstrations, while bus services were disrupted in some areas.
The protesters said the current pricing arrangements were inadequate to meet rising cultivation costs. They have called for government intervention to ensure better returns for sugarcane growers and provide financial relief to the farming community.
Farmers demand ₹5,500 per tonne for sugarcane
The farmers’ primary demand is a minimum price of ₹5,500 per tonne for sugarcane. They have urged the Union government to increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and raise the minimum selling price of sugar to help sugar mills improve their ability to pay growers.
The protesters have also demanded the announcement of a State Advised Price (SAP) by the Karnataka government. They argue that a higher State-level price is necessary to improve farmers’ earnings amid increasing expenditure on cultivation, labour, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
Another key demand is the implementation of the recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission, which proposed measures to improve farmers’ income and strengthen agricultural support systems.
The farmers have additionally urged the Centre to procure the entire quantity of ethanol produced in Karnataka, arguing that support for the ethanol industry could benefit sugar mills and, in turn, sugarcane growers.
National Highway 48 blocked in Belagavi
Belagavi district witnessed major disruptions as protesters blocked National Highway 48, a key route connecting Pune and Bengaluru. Farmers staged demonstrations near the Hattargi, Kuganolli and Hirebagwadi toll plazas, bringing traffic to a standstill in several stretches.
Some protesters remained on the highway overnight, cooked meals along the roadside and continued their blockade. Long queues of trucks, buses and private vehicles formed near Hirebagwadi as commuters waited for the roads to reopen.
At the Hattargi toll plaza in Hukkeri taluk, protesters stopped several vehicles, including a Gujarat Travels bus, and sent them back. The blockade affected the movement of passengers and goods on the busy highway.
A separate incident during the agitation involved a young farmer who allegedly attempted suicide by jumping from the toll structure over the sugarcane pricing dispute. Police intervened, rescued him and took him into custody. The incident underlined the distress surrounding the dispute, although the circumstances require careful consideration by the authorities.
Protests spread across Haveri, Dharwad and Kalaburagi
The agitation also affected several other districts. In Haveri, farmers blocked the highway near the Bankapur toll plaza, disrupting traffic along the route.
In Dharwad, protesters staged a blockade on the bypass road that continued for more than 11 hours. The prolonged disruption affected commuters and vehicles travelling through the district.
In Kalaburagi, farmers blocked the Bidar-Srirangapatna highway and held an overnight demonstration. Protests were also reported in Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Koppal, Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar, indicating the widespread nature of the farmers’ concerns.
The highway blockades caused inconvenience to commuters and commercial transport operators, with traffic movement affected on important inter-district and inter-State routes.
Farmer organisations issue deadline to governments
The agitation was led by farmer organisations, including the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene and Bharatiya Krantikari Kisan Sena.
Leaders of the protesting groups have given the Union government two days to respond to their demands. They warned that the agitation would be intensified if the authorities failed to take action within the deadline.
The organisations have threatened to expand the movement and call for a statewide shutdown if their demands remain unresolved.
The protesters are seeking a coordinated response from both the Union and State governments, particularly on sugarcane pricing, sugar industry policies and the financial viability of cultivation.
Sugarcane pricing dispute puts pressure on authorities
The agitation places renewed focus on the relationship between sugarcane growers, sugar mills and government pricing policies. Farmers depend on timely payments and remunerative prices to cover cultivation expenses and sustain their livelihoods.
The FRP is fixed by the Union government, while Karnataka can announce an SAP under the applicable framework. The minimum selling price of sugar and ethanol procurement policies also influence the financial position of sugar mills and the broader sugar industry.
The farmers’ demand for ₹5,500 per tonne is therefore linked to several policy issues rather than a single pricing decision.
With protests affecting highways across multiple districts, the authorities face pressure to address the farmers’ concerns while restoring normal traffic movement. The farmer organisations have indicated that further action will depend on the response received from the governments within the announced deadline.