Karnataka sugarcane farmers protest in Hubballi, seek Rs 5,500 a tonne as crushing begins

Thousands of sugarcane farmers protested at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle in Hubballi on Tuesday. They came from Karnataka and neighbouring states, and demanded that cane be priced at Rs 5,500 a tonne for the 2026-27 crushing season.

The protest was organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene. Farmers from Dharwad, Belagavi and other districts joined it, and the organisers put the gathering at more than 2,000., reported media. Members of the Shetkari Sanghatana from Maharashtra, led by Raju Shetti, also took part.

The protesters demanded a higher Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane. They want the minimum selling price of sugar raised from Rs 31 a kg to Rs 60 a kg. They also sought an additional Rs 300 a tonne for cane supplied in the 2025-26 season. Their other demands were full implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, 100 per cent procurement of ethanol from Karnataka producers, and approval for the Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project.

Farmer leaders said cultivation costs had risen faster than returns. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene state president Chunnappa Pujari said it costs about Rs 4,500 to cultivate a tonne of cane. Pujari told reporters that costs had increased nearly threefold between 2019 and 2026. He asked that prices be fixed on estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.

Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, who represents Dharwad, appealed to the farmers on X on Monday to come to Delhi for talks instead of protesting. "There is no need for you to protest or sit on the streets. If you come to Delhi, we will hold discussions with you. I request you to come," he said.

Joshi said farmer representatives had met him in February to seek the FRP increase. The Centre raised the price to Rs 365 a quintal in May, he said. "The Central government does not decide the FRP alone," he said, adding that the price-fixing mechanism and the state government, including the Cane Commissioner, were consulted.

A Press Information Bureau release said the estimated cost of sugarcane production for 2026-27 is Rs 182 a quintal. The FRP of Rs 365 a quintal is 100.5 per cent above that cost. Joshi said the farmers would be received "with utmost respect" in Delhi, and that the government was open to doing more.

The farmers rejected the invitation. Shashikant Guruji, who is leading the agitation, said they were not BJP workers to follow the minister's direction. Joshi should come to the protest site instead, he said. "If the minister gives respect to us, we will respect him," he said. He warned that the form of the protest would change if Joshi did not come by evening.

The protesters had planned to lay siege to Joshi's Hubballi office but moved to Nehru Maidan after the police denied permission. They later marched towards his residence, where barricades were put up and more than 250 police personnel were deployed. The Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner visited the protest site and spoke to Pujari about the agitation and the proposed march. Traffic on several major roads in Hubballi was disrupted, with vehicles queued for kilometres.

Karnataka grows sugarcane on about 7.5 lakh hectares and produces nearly 630 lakh tonnes a year. About 576 lakh tonnes of it are crushed by 89 factories, which make close to 50 lakh tonnes of sugar. Belagavi has the highest number of factories in the state at 29. The Centre announces the FRP, while the state has not been announcing a State Advisory Price.

After an indefinite protest at Gurlapur Cross in Mudalgi taluk last year, the government announced Rs 3,300 a tonne along with additional state support. Farmers said the crop this year faces pressure from drought and deficient rainfall.

Chunnappa Pujari also demanded a complete waiver of farm loans. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha secretary Vidyasagar said fertiliser prices had risen. Promises made to farmers, including the doubling of incomes, had not been fulfilled, he said. The agitation is continuing at the protest site.