Karnataka sugarcane farmers demand ₹5,000 per tonne price support from state

The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Thursday demanding that the State government fix sugarcane prices at ₹5,000 per tonne and immediately implement the State Advised Price with an additional ₹900 per tonne above the Centre's Fair and Remunerative Price.

Cost-price gap drives demand

KPRS district president Sharanabasappa Mamshetty told a press conference on Thursday that the cost of producing a tonne of sugarcane stands at ₹3,500, yet farmers do not receive a fair return despite spending nearly 12 months on cultivation and incurring high costs on fertilisers, weeding, harvesting and other farm work. He said the sangha wants the price fixed at ₹5,000 per tonne based on sugar recovery.

Mr. Mamshetty cited a Supreme Court ruling to argue that the State has the power to fix the State Advised Price and should immediately announce the additional ₹900 per tonne. He said the State government should fix an additional price above the Centre's Fair and Remunerative Price under the Karnataka Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Act.

Drought and water stress compound strain

Farmers are also facing problems due to drought, falling groundwater levels and poor rainfall, adding to their financial burden. The sangha sought implementation of the minimum support price based on the C2+50% formula recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission.

Transparency and by-product revenue sharing

The memorandum also demanded that weighing machines be installed at the main gates of sugar factories, that sugarcane-laden vehicles be weighed in the presence of farmers, and that officials carry out regular checks to prevent cheating. KPRS called for farmers to receive a fair share of income from by-products such as molasses, ethanol, bagasse and power.

Other demands include harvesting sugarcane within 12 months, increasing ethanol blending to 25%, regulating harvesting and transportation charges, and establishing bilateral agreements between sugar factories and farmers on harvesting and transportation. Mr. Mamshetty said these measures are necessary to reduce the financial burden on sugarcane growers and ensure them a fair return.

The memorandum was addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister for Sugar and Textiles Rudrappa Lamani.

Source: The Hindu