Farmers block roads across Karnataka demanding higher sugarcane prices
Protesters across several districts demanded Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane and the implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
Sugarcane growers staged protests across various districts of Karnataka on Saturday as part of a statewide bandh, blocking highways and roads to demand better prices for their produce, according to reports by Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express.
The protesters are demanding Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane and an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar to Rs 60 per kg. They also called for the implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
In Vijayapura district, farmers blocked the Vijayapura–Pandharpur highway at Siddapura and several other roads. In Sangapur village of Babaleshwar taluk, protesters surrounded Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil. Patil urged the protesters to remain patient and assured them the State government stood with them.
In Belagavi, farmers blocked roads at Hirebagewadi, Hattargi, Bavana Saundatti, Yadrav and Raibag, with some setting tyres on fire. In Kagwad taluk, the bandh affected traffic between Karnataka and Maharashtra on the road connecting Kagwad with Miraj.
In Mysuru, members of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association blocked the Mysuru-Ooty National Highway near Kuvempu Park. Association president Halli Kerehundi Bhagyaraj demanded that Karnataka announce an extra Rs 1,000 per tonne over the Fair and Remunerative Price this season.
Other protest locations included Dharwad, Hubballi, Haveri, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Bagalkot, Koppal and Gadag. In Yadgir, farmer leader Sharanabasava Hiremath Baddepalli sought drought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre and support prices for paddy and cotton.