CM Shivakumar Promises Talks on Sugarcane Prices After Dasara

Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has promised to convene a meeting of sugarcane farmers, sugar factory representatives and government officials within a week after Dasara to discuss farmers’ demand for better sugarcane prices.
For moree details : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/shivakumar-promises-talks-on-cane-prices-after-dasara/articleshow/135017604.cms

Addressing thousands of farmers in Kittur on Saturday, Shivakumar said the meeting would be held either at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi or the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. State and Union ministers, government officials, factory representatives and farmers’ leaders are expected to participate.

The meeting will discuss sugarcane pricing, minimum support price (MSP) and other demands raised by farmers. Shivakumar urged the protesters to call off their march towards Hubballi to gherao Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s residence and continue their agitation peacefully.

The farmers had blocked the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway for two days before resuming their march. They are expected to reach Hubballi on Monday.

Shivakumar acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by sugarcane growers due to rising input costs and falling incomes. He said the issue required collective discussions involving state and central governments, sugar factories, banks and farmers.

He also noted that sugar-producing states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, faced similar challenges. While some sugar factories had cited financial losses, he stressed that factory owners must understand farmers’ hardships and fulfil their responsibilities towards them.

Read also : Belagavi Bar Association Backs Sugarcane Farmers, Seeks PM and CM’s Intervention