Farmers ‘unhappy with govt’, protest seeking higher price for sugarcane

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Farmers have blocked national and state highways in many parts of the state demanding a price of Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane. The protest is being led by Kuruburu Shanthakumar, the state president of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association.

“For the last four months, they have been asking to fix the price of sugarcane, but the government has not taken any action. The government should fulfil the demands of the farmers immediately. Sugarcane Growers’ Association has warned the government that they will lay siege to all the District Commissioner’s offices in the coming days,” said Shanthakumar.

The farmers protested by blocking the national highway on Thursday in 20 districts of the state, including Raichur, Bagalkote, Mysore, Hubli, Rajanakunte, demanding the fulfillment of various demands.

They also protested against the Karnataka government’s delay in announcing the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for the 2022-23 season. “Punjab has announced an increase in FRP for 2022-2023 season, so now Karnataka government should also announce the FRP.

Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are getting Rs 3,500 per tonne, farmers in Punjab get Rs 3,800 per tonne, so the sugarcane growers in Karnataka should get at least Rs 3,500,” added Shanthakumar. Sugarcane farmers recently took part in a rally in Bengaluru against privatisation of the power sector, and to highlight the problems of sugarcane farmers.

Shanthkumar said that one of their demands is to abandon the electricity privatisation act. He also added that sugarcane prices should be fixed scientifically, besides abolishing GST on agro products