Factories will pay higher prices if sugar MSP is revised, says Satish Jarkiholi
Minister Satish Jarkiholi claimed the Union government must revise the Minimum Selling Price for sugar to resolve issues for sugarcane growers.
Minister and sugar factory owner Satish Jarkiholi said on Sunday in Belagavi that the Union government must revise the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for sugar to provide a permanent solution for sugarcane growers.
According to The Hindu, Jarkiholi stated that sugar factories are prepared to pay higher prices to farmers if the MSP is increased. He noted that the State government has little role in resolving these issues as sugarcane is a regulated crop and the Central government holds power regarding laws and rules.
Jarkiholi said that an increase in the MSP would provide financial relief to sugar factories, allowing owners to pay more per tonne of sugarcane to farmers. He mentioned that during meetings held by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, factories told the Chief Minister they would increase payments to farmers if the MSP is revised.
Addressing weighing concerns, the Minister said the State government has not received specific complaints about mills cheating farmers. He suggested a system where farmers weigh their own produce and proposed installing weighbridges every 10 km on the way to factories.
Jarkiholi also defended the Karnataka Milk Federation's milk price hike, which is effective from November 1. He said the average increase of ₹8 per litre includes ₹7 that will go directly to milk producers to help with rising costs of fodder, feed, and labour.