Karnataka’s Shivakumar seeks Centre’s intervention on sugarcane growers’ demands

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the issues facing sugarcane growers, including demands related to the minimum support price (MSP), require a collective solution involving farmers, sugar mills, the state government and the Centre.

"Everyone must come together to resolve the problems of sugarcane growers, including the MSP. This is not just one person's responsibility; it is everyone's responsibility. I do not wish to put the entire burden on a single individual," Shivakumar told reporters near his residence in Sadashivanagar.

He said the interests of both farmers and sugar factories need to be protected for the sector to remain viable.


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"If farmers grow sugarcane, factories will run. At the same time, factories must crush sugarcane without incurring losses. Only then will both survive. This is a matter of everyone's livelihood. We need a collective discussion involving farmers, sugar factories and the government," he said.

Shivakumar said he has sought an appointment with the Central government to discuss drought relief and has informed elected representatives about holding discussions on sugarcane growers' concerns.

"I need to speak separately with sugar factory owners and farmers. I will also speak with Union ministers. This issue needs to be resolved peacefully and harmoniously," he said, adding that a meeting would be convened on a date convenient to all stakeholders. Union ministers, MPs and local ministers from the Belagavi region would be invited, he said.

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The CM's remarks came amid an ongoing agitation by sugarcane farmers in north Karnataka. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shivakumar has sought the Centre's intervention on five key issues, including revision of the minimum selling price of sugar, separate pricing for retail and commercial sugar sales, a review of ethanol procurement norms, higher prices for cane-based ethanol and restoration of the fair and remunerative price (FRP) base recovery level.

According to the chief minister, protests by farmers, including padayatras and road blockades, have disrupted normal life and delayed the commencement of the crushing season.