Karnataka CM Shivakumar urges sugar mills to be large-hearted towards cane growers

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday urged sugar mill owners to address sugarcane growers' demands and help resolve the ongoing cane price dispute, saying factories must show large-heartedness to win over farmers.

Addressing sugar mill owners in Belagavi, Shivakumar said farmers had taken to the streets because their concerns remained unaddressed. He urged factory owners to consider growers' demands even if it involved a limited financial burden.

Recalling last year's agitation, during which a vehicle was set on fire, the CM said such incidents should not recur. He called on mill owners to hold discussions with farmers and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.


Shivakumar said the Siddaramaiah government had decided to share the financial burden of cane price support, with the state contributing a portion and mills covering the remainder. While around 80% of factories had complied with the decision, some had challenged it in court, he noted.

The CM said similar demands were being raised by farmers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He added that sugar prices had remained largely unchanged for the past decade, while cultivation costs had risen, leaving cane growers under financial stress.

With farmers seeking a cane price of up to Rs 6,000 per tonne, Shivakumar said responsibility for finding a solution rested with sugar mills, the state government and the Centre.

He also acknowledged the challenges facing the sugar industry, including financial constraints, banking issues, and concerns over ethanol and power tariffs. Since a unilateral decision was not possible, he said he had sought time from farmers to consult all stakeholders before arriving at a final decision.

The CM added that lower rainfall had increased agricultural power consumption and affected sugarcane yields, leading to a decline in sugar production.