BENGALURU: Tensions escalated across northern Karnataka on Friday as the farmers’ protest over sugarcane pricing entered its ninth consecutive day, triggering unrest along the Bengaluru–Pune National Highway in Belagavi. The agitation, which began as a peaceful demand for fair pricing, turned volatile after angry farmers pelted stones and clashed with police, underscoring the mounting frustration over rising cultivation costs and government inaction.
Slipper hurled at minister’s convoy
The unrest followed Thursday’s incident in Belagavi, where a slipper was thrown at the convoy of State Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil. The minister, who escaped unhurt, later said he “understood the farmers’ anger” but appealed for calm, stating that the government was working to find a resolution. However, the act symbolised the depth of discontent among cultivators, who accuse the government of delaying decisions on sugarcane pricing despite repeated assurances.
Chief Minister blames Centre, seeks PM’s intervention
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has placed the blame on the Union government, alleging that flaws in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) formula—set by the Centre—have left farmers underpaid and financially strained. In a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he warned of “growing unrest among the farming community” and sought an urgent review of the FRP mechanism to align it with escalating input costs.
The Chief Minister held two consecutive meetings in Bengaluru on Thursday — one with sugar mill owners and another with farmer unions — in a bid to mediate. However, sources said the discussions ended without consensus, with mills refusing to raise prices citing “low recovery rates” and “market instability.”
Protests spread across districts
The agitation, now in its second week, has paralysed normal life across Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura districts, with roads blocked and transport disrupted in several taluks. Pro-Kannada organisations have announced a day-long bandh to express solidarity with the farmers. While protesters have postponed a full highway blockade for now, they have issued a two-day ultimatum to the government to meet their demands.
“Farmers are tired of waiting. If the government doesn’t act within 48 hours, we’ll take our protest to every sugar mill in the state,” said Ramesh Patil, president of a local farmers’ association in Belagavi.
Rising costs, stagnant prices
At the core of the protest is the demand for a minimum price of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane. Farmers argue that their production costs have risen sharply due to inflation and poor rainfall patterns. According to farmer unions, the cost of cultivating one tonne of cane now stands between ₹2,900 and ₹3,000, leaving them with negligible profits under the existing FRP.
Input costs have nearly doubled:
- Fertiliser prices are up by around 40%
- Labour wages have risen by 35%
- Irrigation and transportation expenses have also surged significantly
“This year, I spent more than ₹3 lakh on fertilisers and water alone. The mills offer ₹3,000 per tonne at best. How can we survive like this?” asked Mahantesh Hugar, a farmer from Athani.
Political and administrative response
The Karnataka government has urged patience, stating that it has already initiated discussions with the Centre. “We are with our farmers. The state will not make any unilateral decision until the Centre revises the FRP structure,” said Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, adding that compensation mechanisms are being considered for farmers facing immediate losses.
However, the Opposition has criticised the state administration for what it calls “delayed and half-hearted” measures. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the Congress government’s “failure to engage early” had allowed the situation to spiral out of control.
Conclusion
With both the state and central governments yet to agree on pricing reforms, the farmers’ agitation shows no signs of slowing down. The coming days are likely to be crucial, as farmer unions prepare for a wider mobilisation if their demands remain unmet. For now, northern Karnataka remains on edge, with the sugarcane crisis threatening to snowball into a larger political and economic standoff.