Mysuru, 18 April

Sugarcane farmers protested outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Saturday and demanded a uniform sugarcane pricing policy in Karnataka.

They alleged that there was a gap of nearly Rs 800 per tonne between the northern and southern parts of Karnataka.

They said that they would stage an indefinite dharana if their demands were not met within 10 days.

Led by Sugarcane Growers’ Association head Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj, the farmers urged the State government to ensure that sugar factories held up their end of the 2025 directive from the State government.

Following widespread unrest last year after sugar prices collapsed, the State government said that sugarcane prices would be raised by Rs 100 per tonne, with the government bearing Rs 50 and factories bearing the other half.

However, the protesting farmers alleged that mills such as the Bannari Sugar Factory had not held up their end of the deal and had not released the pending amounts.

The protesters also accused government officials of colluding with factory owners.

Earlier, State Sugarcane Growers Association State unit President Kurubur Shanthakumar had noted that mills in North Karnataka had released the amount.