Sugarcane farmers block highways in Karnataka, demand higher prices

Bengaluru: Sugarcane farmers blocked national highways at several places in Karnataka on Tuesday, demanding higher prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

Protests were reported from Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Dharwad districts, disrupting traffic on key highways, including the Pune-Bengaluru route and National Highway 50 near Nidagundi. In Belagavi, farmers under the banner of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene blocked the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway at Hattargi and Hirebagewadi toll plazas.

Farmers have been seeking an increase in the Minimum Support Price and the Fair and Remunerative Price, and payment of Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 per tonne for sugarcane. They have also demanded that the minimum selling price of sugar be raised from Rs 31 to Rs 60.

Their meeting with union ministers in Delhi on Monday failed to yield an immediate decision. Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi appealed to the farmers to withdraw their agitation, assuring them that the Centre would address their concerns.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who discussed the issue with Joshi on Monday night, said the matter required consultations with other states. Police held discussions with the protesters, but the farmers insisted the blockade would continue until their demands were met.

(With inputs from PTI)