Mysuru, 16 August

The State Sugarcane Growers Association will launch a major protest from 20 August, with thousands of farmers across Karnataka set to picket Vidhana Soudha and begin an indefinite overnight dharna at Freedom Park, Bengaluru.

The organisation’s President, Hallikerehundi Bhagyraj said Saturday the association demands that the State government fixes a scientific price of Rs 4500 per tonne of sugarcane supply during the crushing and harvesting season.

He claimed that sugar mills were fleecing farmers. The government must install weighing machines in front of the mills. The mills must also bear the transportation and harvesting cost.

Bhagyraj also said that black marketeers were hoarding chemical fertilisers and creating an artificial scarcity to sell it inflated prices. He demanded government intervention.

Other demands that the government expedites the construction Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir, and to increase the milk procurement prices to Rs 55 per litre.

Bhagyraj also urged the Centre to relax CIBIL score for farmers for of loan distribution, remove the restrictions on cattle grazing in forest land, and to increase the compensation to Rs 25 lakh for victims who died by wild animals attack.

Farmer leaders Anduvinahalli Raju, Treasurer Kerehundi Rajanna, Convener Hanumaiah, and several others were present during the press meet.