Farmers to stage Jail Bharo protest in Belagavi today
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha demands a sugarcane price of Rs 5,500 per tonne at Gurlapur.
Farmers will hold a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest at Gurlapur in Mudalgi taluk on November 2, according to the Deccan Herald.
Hasiru Sene State president Chunappa Pujeri said the protest is to demand a sugarcane price of Rs 5,500 per tonne. He stated that both the State and Central governments have not met their demands even after protests lasting over a month.
Pujeri said farmers want sugar factories to pay Rs 4,500 per tonne and the State government to provide Rs 1,000 as support price. He claimed that taxes between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore are generated from sugar processing and sales.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi told reporters on Sunday that sugarcane farmers should participate in talks to resolve issues. He said a permanent solution requires the Centre to increase the minimum selling price of sugar so factory owners can pay farmers more.
Co-operation Minister Laxman Savadi also urged the Centre to announce the minimum selling price for sugarcane quickly to allow harvesting to begin. He noted that water shortages are becoming severe and harvesting delays could worsen the situation.
Savadi mentioned that Maharashtra has already introduced load-shedding due to water scarcity and Karnataka might need similar measures.