Farmers on Monday locked the Public Works Department office at Mudhol in Bagalkot district while demanding higher price for sugarcane. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A protest by sugarcane growers at Mudhol in Bagalkot district demanding a minimum price of ₹ 3,500 per tonne entered the second day on Monday.
Farmer officials said they would not accept the price of ₹3,300 announced by the state government. The price so notified includes a State Government contribution of ₹50.
The farmers are demanding ₹3,500 per tonne of produce sold to all factories in all districts, irrespective of the percentage of sugar utilization.
On Monday, members of various farmers’ organizations took part in a protest rally at Mudhol. They raised slogans against former minister and factory owner Murugesh Nirani and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who they said refused to pay even the price of ₹3,250 (in addition to the ₹50 to be contributed by the sugar mill) set by the state government.
Some protesters even shut down the sub-divisional office of the Public Works Department after dispatching all the officers.
They blocked the Mudhol-Sankeshwar highway for several hours. They pitched a tent near Sangolli Rayanna Circle and promised to spend the night there. They rejected the offer of district in-charge minister RB Thimmapura to organize a meeting of farmer leaders and local factory owners.
In Belagavi
Meanwhile, some farmers in border taluks like Raibag and Nippani of Belagavi district have started sending their produce to factories in Maharashtra, believing that they offer higher prices.
Raibag farmer Iranna Goudar told reporters that he was sending his crop to Dalmia Mill in Maharashtra as it was offering ₹3,600 per tonne. He said that he had participated in the protest at Gurlapur Cross for extortionate prices and that he did not accept the price fixed by the state government.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi, whose family owns or manages several sugar mills, said the price of ₹3,250 (in addition to the ₹50 to be contributed by the sugar mill) set by the state government applies to every plant, including his.
However, he said the chief minister would lead a delegation to New Delhi to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the minimum support price for sugarcane and adjust the ethanol policy to benefit sugar mills.
“We should create and implement policies in such a way that farmers and factories survive and prosper,” he said.
Published – 10 Nov 2025 19:53 IST
