Sugarcane growers marched in Afzalpur town of Kalaburagi district on Thursday as part of the Afzalpur Bandh, demanding a price of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Farmers under the banner of Sugarcane Growers Association observed a bandh at Afzalpur in Kalaburagi district on Thursday, demanding a fair price of ₹ 3,500 per tonne of sugarcane and fulfillment of other pending demands.
Hundreds of farmers protested at Basaveshwar Circle since early morning, disrupting vehicular movement in the city for hours. Traffic between Kalaburagi–Solapur and Vijayapura–Ghattargi routes was affected causing inconvenience to commuters and passengers. The bandh also caused trouble for pilgrims from Maharashtra heading to Deval Gangapur, a popular pilgrimage center that houses the Dattatreya temple, where the Karthik Mahotsav and community feast was held.
Protesting farmers blocked four main roads, set tires on fire and raised slogans against the government and sugar mills, accusing them of neglecting the welfare of farmers. They also went through the main market and appealed to the traders to close their shops. Most commercial establishments across the city remained closed in solidarity with the agitation.
Agitating farmers on Thursday set tires alight at Afzalpur in Kalaburagi district demanding a price of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The protesters alleged widespread irregularities in weighing and measuring at sugar mills and complained that tractor owners and harvest teams were collecting illegal payments from farmers for transporting and cutting cane.
“All these exploitative practices must stop. The government and mills must fix the price of sugarcane at ₹3,500 per tonne and start crushing immediately. Until then, we will continue our agitation and road blockade,” said Ramesh Hugar, president of the district sugarcane growers’ association at the site of the agitation.
School children also joined the protest at several places, raising slogans against the government and calling on it to solve the problems faced by sugarcane growers. The farmers continued their agitation at Basaveshwar Circle in the city until the Afzalpur Tahsildar visited them around 5 pm.
“The Tahsildar said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hold a meeting with sugar mill owners on Friday to find a solution to the cane price issue. We, the agitating farmers, have decided to call off the protest for the day and wait for the outcome of the meeting. If the meeting does not take a favorable decision, we will meet again in the city and resume the agitation with more intensity,” Karnaappashe district president Mamthanabas Shartanybas said. Raitha Sangha (KPRS) told reporters.
Prominent leaders who participated in the protest included Bhaganana Kumbar, Siddu Dannoor, Lakshmiputra Manami, Dhanu Patate, Sharangouda Mali Patil, Basavaraj Wali, Raju Badadal, Siddaram Sultannapur, Revanasiddayya Math, Dhareppa Gowda Biradar and Sharianappa Melakund and Sharianappa Melakund.
Published – November 6, 2025 6:34 PM IST
