Seeking payment of dues of ₹629 crore to sugarcane growers and a Government Order on giving fair and remunerative price (FRP) on ex-field basis, the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association has warned of an agitation in Belagavi on December 9 and intensifying it further from the next day if the demands are not met.
After holding a meeting of farmers here on Saturday, association president Kurubur Shanthakumar told reporters that only farmers’ leaders would participate in the protest on December 9, and if there was no progress, they would be forced to escalate it into a major agitation from the day the legislature session would begin in Belagavi.
‘Centre to be blamed too’
Mr. Shanthakumar urged that the Union government rectify the mistake it had made by increasing the base recovery rate to 10, which, he claimed, was causing a loss of ₹150 a tonne to farmers.
“If BJP leaders from the State have concern for farmers, they should prevail upon the Union government to get the order rectified,” he demanded.
Mr. Shanthakumar said their other demand was re-inclusion of the clause of penalty and punishment in the Karnataka Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Act to reign in sugar mills that fail to pay dues within 14 days of procurement. Despite opposition from farmers, the clause was removed by the previous government, he said.