Mudhol farmers demand ₹5,500 for a tonne of sugarcane

The protest by sugarcane farmers in Mudhol in Bagalkot district demanding ₹5,500 per tonne, entered the sixth day on Wednesday.

Activists took out a rally from Sangolli Rayanna Circle to the taluk office and submitted a memorandum to the State government.

They vowed to continue their protest till the factories agree to pay higher prices.

They are demanding ₹4,250 a tonne from the sugar factories and ₹1,250 incentive from the State government as State Advised Price.

They said that they will not accept the ₹3,600 per tonne and the profit-sharing formula agreed upon in Belagavi.

They expressed anger against the Union government for failing to revise the Minimum Selling Price of sugar and against the State government for failing to announce SAP. They insisted that sugar factories begin operations only after announcing a higher price.

“Farmers are going around villages, making public announcements urging others not to harvest sugarcane and to join the protest. If the 14 sugar factories in the district begin operations without announcing the price, the factory owners themselves will be held responsible for any untoward incidents that may follow,” farmers leader Eerappa Hanchinal said.

Another leader Sangamesh said that the politicians and factory owners have diluted the protest in Belagavi by dividing farmers and threatening them that delay in crushing will damage their crops.

He also challenged the factories to start crushing operations without the consent of farmers.

Farmers leader Basavantappa said that some factories have not paid last year’s arrears to farmers.

He demanded that the State government act against such factories.

Meanwhile, district in-charge Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar urged them to accept the price of ₹3,600 and withdraw the agitation.

“I know that farmers are suffering due to higher costs. But then, factories are also suffering due to fluctuation in prices and high cost of borrowing. This year’s offer price is ₹300 higher than last year’s. I appeal to farmers to accept it and not make it a matter of prestige,” he said.

Published - November 11, 2026 09:27 pm IST