Belagavi (Karnataka), Oct 17 Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said he will convene a meeting with sugar factory owners, farmer leaders and central officials next week to discuss sugarcane growers’ demands, appealing to protesting farmers to call off their agitation.
Shivakumar met sugarcane growers undertaking a padayatra at Kittur in Belagavi district, demanding an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane.
“After Dasara, within the next week itself, I will convene a meeting with sugar factory owners, farmer leaders and central officials. With folded hands, I appeal to the farmers to drop their protest,” he said.
The chief minister said the state government alone could not resolve the issue and that the Centre, banks and sugar factory owners also had a role to play.
“A permanent solution can only be found when everyone sits together and discusses,” he said, adding that he was ready to meet farmers wherever they called him.
Shivakumar said he had spoken to farmer leader Chunappa Pujari and that state ministers for Cooperation, Agriculture and Sugar had visited Delhi for discussions with the concerned authorities.
He said the proposed meeting will discuss sugarcane prices, the MSP and possible assistance to growers. A memorandum outlining their demands would also be submitted to the Union Ministers.
Shivakumar said sugar factory owners had raised concerns over losses, electricity procurement costs, production expenses and regulatory differences between states, with some claiming that operating their units had become unviable.
“Only if the factories survive will it benefit the farmers. Therefore, a solution needs to be found keeping in mind the interests of both farmers and factory owners,” he said.
Speaking to reporters later, he said the meeting will be held in Belagavi if possible.
The state government had earlier proposed assistance of Rs 300 per tonne, but sugar factories have not agreed to it, he said, adding that some mills have also pressured the government to take over their operations.
“But if everyone stays up in the clouds, this will not be resolved. We have to sit on the ground and work. Factories must survive. Farmers must also survive. The government too must respond accordingly,” he said.
Shivakumar said the state government spent around Rs 22,000 crore annually to provide electricity to farmers and allocated about Rs 1 lakh crore annually for various welfare programmes, including free bus travel, Gruha Jyoti, Gruha Lakshmi and pension schemes.
The chief minister said drought has been declared across Karnataka and that the government sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to discuss relief. A memorandum seeking necessary assistance will also be submitted to the Union Home Minister.
“During a drought, the central and state governments must work in cooperation. All political parties must stand together when it comes to providing relief to the distress of farmers,” he said.
Shivakumar said the date of the proposed meeting will be finalised after consultations with farmer leaders, factory owners and the Centre, noting that the model code of conduct is in force for MLC elections.
Meanwhile, sugarcane farmers rejected Shivakumar’s appeal to withdraw their agitation and threatened to resume their march on Sunday if their demand for an MSP was not met.
Farmer leader Chunappa Pujari said the agitation was directed against the Union government and will continue until the MSP was announced.
He demanded that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi visit Kittur by Sunday afternoon and announce the MSP.
“If the demand is not met by Sunday afternoon, we will resume our foot march and launch a ‘Hubballi Chalo’ protest. We will not withdraw our agitation until the MSP is announced,” Pujari said.
The farmers are demanding Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane, an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar to Rs 60 per kg and a revision of ethanol prices, among other measures.
The growers from north Karnataka began their padayatra towards Joshi’s residence in Hubballi after a two-day blockade of the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway near Belagavi. They decided to take their protest to the Union Minister’s doorstep after the Centre failed to give a clear assurance on their demands despite constituting a committee to examine the issue.
(PTI News)
