Sugarcane Farmers Intensify Stir in Hubballi, Demand ₹5,500 Per Tonne

HUBBALLI, SEPT 30: Sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra intensified their agitation in Hubballi on Tuesday, demanding that the price of sugarcane for the 2026-27 crushing season be fixed at ₹5,500 per tonne.

Thousands of farmers gathered at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle under the banner of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene. Farmers from Dharwad, Belagavi and other districts, along with members of Maharashtra-based Shetkari Sanghatana led by Raju Shetti, participated in the protest.

The farmers are seeking a substantial increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane. They have also demanded that the minimum selling price of sugar be increased from ₹31 to ₹60 per kg and that an additional ₹300 per tonne be paid for cane supplied during the 2025-26 season.

Other demands include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, 100 per cent procurement of ethanol from Karnataka producers, approval of the Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project and complete waiver of farm loans.

KRRS and Hasiru Sene state president Chunnappa Pujari said the cost of producing a tonne of sugarcane had risen to around ₹4,500, with input and cultivation expenses having nearly tripled between 2019 and 2026. He demanded that the cane price be fixed based on estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.

The agitation intensified after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi appealed to the farmers to come to Delhi for discussions instead of staging a protest in Hubballi. Joshi said on X that there was no need for the farmers to protest on the streets and that discussions could be held if they came to Delhi.

Joshi said farmer representatives had met him in February seeking an increase in the FRP and that the Centre had subsequently raised it to ₹365 per quintal in May. He said the FRP was fixed after consultations involving the Centre, the state government and the Cane Commissioner.

According to a PIB release, the estimated production cost of sugarcane for the 2026-27 season is ₹182 per quintal, while the FRP has been fixed at ₹365 per quintal, which is 100.5 per cent above the estimated cost.

However, the farmers rejected the invitation to Delhi. Agitation leader Shashikant Guruji said Joshi should instead visit the protest site and listen to the farmers' demands.

The protesters had planned to lay siege to Joshi's Hubballi office but shifted to Nehru Maidan after police denied permission. They later marched towards his residence, prompting the deployment of more than 250 police personnel and the erection of barricades. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner visited the protest site and held talks with Pujari.

The agitation also disrupted traffic on several major roads, with vehicles reportedly stranded in long queues.

Karnataka cultivates sugarcane on around 7.5 lakh hectares and produces nearly 630 lakh tonnes annually. Around 576 lakh tonnes are crushed by 89 sugar factories, producing close to 50 lakh tonnes of sugar. Belagavi has the highest number of sugar factories in the state, with 29.

While the Centre fixes the FRP, Karnataka has not been announcing a State Advisory Price. Farmers said drought and deficient rainfall had added to the difficulties faced by sugarcane growers this year.

KRRS secretary Vidyasagar alleged that fertiliser prices had also increased and said several promises made to farmers, including doubling their incomes, remained unfulfilled.

The agitation was continuing at the protest site.