Karnataka CM to convene meeting with farmers and sugar mills over MSP protests

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has appealed to sugarcane farmers to end their ongoing padayatra and protests in Belagavi district. The farmers are demanding an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugarcane and a revised MSP for sugar.

To address the crisis, Shivakumar announced he will convene a meeting next week following the Dasara festival. The proposed meeting will include sugar mill owners, farmer leaders, and Central government officials to seek a permanent solution that balances the interests of growers and factory owners. The Chief Minister emphasized that the issue is a national concern and requires cooperation from the Centre, banks, and industry stakeholders.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai also visited protest sites in Dharwad, urging the state government to take an active role in resolving the issue. He noted that while the Union Government has formed a committee to examine the demands, the state should also contribute to the resolution, citing revenue generated from GST on sugarcane by-products.

Farmers have specifically demanded a revised MSP of ₹5,500 per tonne of sugarcane and ₹60 per kg of sugar. Meanwhile, sugar mill owners have cited rising production costs, electricity expenses, and financial losses as significant challenges to their operations.