Farmers stop sales, transportation of sugar from Belagavi factories

Farmers leaders taking part in a meeting in Mudalagi of Belagavi district on Wednesday.

Farmers leaders in Belagavi district on Wednesday stopped sales and transportation of sugar from factories saying that they cannot engage in trade before the Union government finalises the Minimum Selling Price of sugar.

In some places, protestors locked warehouses and did not allow movement of sugar-laden trucks to leave the premises.

They demanded that no sugar be sold until the Centre fixes MSP for sugar. They said that they have temporarily ended their protest after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar sought an assurance from the factories that they will abide by the MSP fixed by the Union government.

They visited several factories, including Satish Sugars in Mudalagi taluk owned by Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Alagawadi Beereshwara Sugar Factory, Vishwanath Sugar Factory in Bellad Bagewadi and Somayya Sugar Factory in Sameerawadi, to register their protest.

In some places, the farmers forced the factory management to lock the warehouses.

“We have taken a pledge to secure a price of ₹5,500 per tonne of sugarcane. For this to happen, MSP for sugar must be increased from ₹31 to ₹60. The Union government has not revised the selling price of sugar in the last 10 years. Raising it will automatically lead to a higher price for sugarcane. That is why, we have been protesting for over a month. We will not allow movement of sugar under any circumstances,” Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Chunappa Pujeri told reporters in Mudalagi.

“We have been asking for an MSP of ₹60. But we are willing accept a revision of up to at least ₹50. Factories have assured us that they will give us a price of ₹4,500 per tonne, if this is done. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has promised to make efforts in this regard. He must keep his word,” he said.

“The Central panel led by the former NITI Ayog member Ramesh Chand is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on Thursday and Friday to meet farmers, scientists, officers and factory management,” he said.

“However, we are not much concerned with what this committee intends to do. We want our demand for revised MSP and increased Fair and Remunerative Price to be met. If our demands are not met, farmers across the State will not allow sugar factories to commence operations or allow the sale of sugar,” Mr. Pujeri said.

Leaders Shashikanta Padasalagi Guruji, Kishan Nandi, Prem Chougala, Raju Powal, Satyappa Mallapuri, Pandurang Beeranagaddi, Kumara Mardi, Shrishail Angadi and others were present.

They all later held a meeting at Gurlapur Cross in Mudalagi taluk.