Sugarcane farmers protest in Karnataka over price demands

Thousands of sugarcane farmers, led by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangh and Hasiru Sene, staged a large protest in Hubballi, Karnataka. The protesters are demanding an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, specifically requesting a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne. They are also calling for the full implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations and the long-pending Mahadayi project.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, responded to the agitation via a video message, inviting farmer leaders to Delhi to discuss their grievances with officials. Joshi stated that there is no need for street protests and noted that the central government has increased the FRP annually, including a Rs 365 increase in May. He emphasized that FRP decisions involve considerations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices and state sugar commissioners.

Farmer leaders rejected the invitation to travel to Delhi, criticizing the Minister for not visiting the protest site in person. Agitation leader Shashikant Guruji stated that the support price has not seen a significant increase in nine years and warned that protests would continue until the Union government addresses their demands directly at the site.