The deadlock over sugarcane pricing in Belagavi district has eased following an agreement to fix the price at ₹3,600 per tonne. Guardian Minister Satish Jarkiholi announced the decision after a meeting with farmer leaders and district officials at the District Collector’s office on Wednesday (November 4).
Jarkiholi said sugar factory owners, who had initially offered ₹3,500 per tonne, had agreed to increase the price to ₹3,600 following discussions held over the past two days and pressure from the farmers’ agitation.
However, the announcement has not received unanimous acceptance from farmers’ organisations, with several union leaders maintaining that the agreed price is insufficient.
At the beginning of the meeting, Jarkiholi sought the farmers’ expectations. Farmer leaders demanded a minimum price of ₹4,000 per tonne, citing drought conditions, rising cultivation costs and financial difficulties faced by sugarcane growers.
Despite being given time to discuss the proposal among themselves, the farmer representatives could not reach a consensus.
Subsequently, a closed-door meeting was held in the presence of Acting Deputy Commissioner Rahul Shinde, Northern Range Inspector General of Police Sandeep Patil, Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam, District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan and farmer leaders.
Following the discussions, Jarkiholi and MLA Raju Sait addressed the media and announced the ₹3,600 per tonne rate.
Factories to resume operations from Thursday
The Guardian Minister said sugar factories in the district would commence operations from Thursday (November 5), following the agreement.
He appealed to farmers, particularly those participating in the agitation led by Chunnappa Pujari, to withdraw the proposed ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation and protest marches scheduled for Thursday and cooperate with the commencement of factory operations.
Farmers’ unions divided over the decision
Reactions to the announcement were mixed. While some farmers present at the District Collector’s office expressed satisfaction with the decision, leaders of several farmers’ organisations strongly opposed the ₹3,600 rate, stating that it was unacceptable.
The unions said they would hold internal discussions before announcing their next course of action. This leaves uncertainty over whether the proposed Jail Bharo agitation will be withdrawn or continue.
SAP proposal to be revisited after a year
Jarkiholi also stated that the demand for introducing a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane would be revisited after one year.
He clarified that the agreed price of ₹3,600 per tonne would apply exclusively to sugarcane growers in Belagavi district.
The immediate question now is whether the farmers’ unions will accept the announced rate or continue their agitation demanding a higher price.