Mudhol farmers are demanding ₹5,500 per tonne of sugarcane
A protest by sugarcane growers at Mudhol in Bagalkot district demanding ₹5,500 per tonne entered the sixth day on Wednesday.
The activists took out a rally from Sangolli Rayanna constituency to the taluk office and submitted a memorandum to the state government.
They vowed to continue their protest until the factories agreed to pay higher prices.
They are demanding ₹4,250 per tonne from sugar mills and an incentive of ₹1,250 from the state government as the state notified price.
They said they would not accept ₹3,600 per tonne and the profit sharing formula agreed at Belagavi.
They expressed anger against the Union government for not revising the minimum selling price of sugar and the state government for not notifying the SAP. They insisted that the sugar mills start operations only after a higher price is announced.
“Farmers are going around the villages and making public statements urging others not to harvest sugarcane and join the protest. If the 14 sugar mills in the district start operations without notifying the price, the factory owners will be held responsible for any untoward incidents that may follow,” said farmer leader Eerappa Hanchinal.
Another leader, Sangamesh, said politicians and factory owners diluted the protest in Belagavi by dividing farmers and threatening them that delay in crushing would damage their crops.
He also called on factories to start crushing without farmers’ consent.
Farmers’ president Basavantappa said that some factories have not cleared last year’s arrears to farmers.
He demanded that the state government should take action 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 farmers are suffering because of higher costs. But factories are also suffering because of price fluctuations and high borrowing costs. This year’s offer price is ₹300 more than last year’s. I appeal to farmers to accept it and not make it prestige,” he said.
Published – 11 Nov 2026 21:27 IST