All stakeholders must work together to solve the problems of sugarcane farmers: Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar

Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar. File | Photo credit: HS MANJUNATH

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday (Oct 20, 2026) said a collective effort was needed to resolve the issues faced by sugarcane growers, including their demand for minimum support price (MSP), and called for discussions involving farmers, sugar mills and the government.

“This is not just one person’s responsibility, it is everybody’s responsibility. I don’t want to put the entire burden on a single individual,” he told the media near his residence in Sadashivanagar.

“If the farmers grow sugarcane, the factories will run. At the same time, the factories have to crush the sugarcane without incurring losses. That’s the only way both can survive. It’s a matter of everyone’s livelihood,” he said.

Meeting to discuss problems

Mr. Shivakumar said that he informed the elected representatives that the problems of the growers would be discussed and that he would talk to farmers and sugar mill owners separately. Central ministers, MPs and local ministers from the region would also be invited for a meeting for which a mutually convenient date would be fixed.

“I have given my word to the farmers of Belagavi,” he said, pointing out that the issue needs to be resolved through dialogue and in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

Regarding the drought, he said he was looking for a meeting with the Union government to discuss relief for the state, but the date was yet to be fixed.

Get ready for local opinion polls

Mr. Shivakumar said ministers have been asked to prepare for the upcoming local body elections, citing the Supreme Court’s direction to complete the polls by December 31 and the Election Commission’s plan to release the new voter list on October 27.

“The Election Commission can call for elections at any time. I have therefore instructed the ministers to prepare for the elections,” he said.

“During the cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, it was decided to release funds to solve the road and drinking water problems at the Panchayat level. So I asked the MLAs to submit the funding report and also called them to wish them a festival. Regarding the funds for Bengaluru, I called and spoke to the local MLAs,” he explained.

Mr. Shivakumar also greeted Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami people in the state.

Published – 20 October 2026 17:49 IST