CM Shivakumar to meet sugarcane farmers before factory owners amid protests

Karnataka: The state Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday, October 26, that he will first hold talks with agitating sugarcane farmers on their demand for an incentive of Rs 1,000 per tonne, then meet sugar factory owners to find a solution.

Speaking to reporters in Belagavi ahead of the meeting, Shivakumar said the Centre bears 90 percent of the responsibility for the issue and the state only 10 percent, and stressed the need to involve the Centre. “It is our collective responsibility to protect farmers,” he said.

He said he had consulted officials and legislators from Mysuru, central Karnataka, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Belagavi, and would examine the facts before deciding. He would first hear the officials’ assessment, speak to farmers again and consult elected representatives before announcing a final decision, he said.

Shivakumar said the government had earlier pressed factories to agree to pay an additional Rs 250 per tonne, with the state contributing Rs 50. Some factories had not paid the agreed amounts, he said, adding that the government had information about the pending payments.

Asked whether the Rs 1,000 demand could be met, he said he would first discuss it with factory owners. On their claims that they cannot sell electricity and that the Centre restricted higher procurement to 30 percent, he said: “I do not know what they have told you. I have not spoken to them yet.”

On Sunday, he had expressed interest in meeting Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who handles Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Joshi had agreed to attend but appeared to have other commitments, Shivakumar said.

Growers had staged a protest at Gurlapur in Mudalagi taluk on Sunday, blocking a state highway, PTI reported.

(With Inputs from PTI)