Karnataka Sugarcane Protests Enter Day Nine as Roads Blockade Escalates
Karnataka Sugarcane Protests Enter Day Nine as Roads Blockade Escalates
Farmers in Belagavi press for ₹3,500 per tonne FRP as protests widen, blocking highways and drawing responses from state and central ministers.
Northern Karnataka is gripped by a continuing protest as sugarcane farmers push into day nine, maintaining sit-ins and road blockades in Belagavi and surrounding areas. The farmers are demanding a Fair and Remunerative Price of ₹3,500 per tonne for sugarcane, arguing that the Centre’s current FRP does not cover their rising costs and debt, especially with modest sugar recovery. The protest began at Belagavi’s Gurlapur Cross and has since spilled onto major roads, disrupting travel and commerce in the region.
In Belagavi, police and protest organizers have clashed over the best approach to keep traffic moving while allowing farmers to voice their demands. One of the flashpoints cited has been a potential highway blockade on the Pune-Bengaluru corridor near Hattargi, where farmers set up demonstrations and later dispersed after assurances from authorities. While some activity has eased temporarily, the wider agitation persists as farmers insist on a price that truly compensates their costs, including cutting and transportation charges.
Political responses have been cautious. A state minister met with protesting farmers, reiterating that price fixation for sugarcane is a central prerogative and that the Centre’s FRP decision applies across the board. The Chief Minister has announced plans to convene a meeting with sugar mill owners to chart a way forward and has written to the Prime Minister seeking an urgent appointment to discuss the situation. The central government maintains that FRP is set nationally, a position the farmers say necessitates federal consideration to resolve the stalemate.
The mood on the ground remains tense but peaceful at many sites, with authorities attempting to avoid a wider disruption while farmers insist they will persist until a remunerative price is publicly announced. Some leaders have hinted at broader actions if progress stalls, underscoring the risk of a longer stalemate that could impact the local economy and supply chains. As talks continue, residents and motorists are hopeful for a clear resolution and a return to normalcy on Karnataka’s roads.
Cover image source: Slippers thrown at Karnataka minister’s car as sugarcane farmers’ protest intensifies 🔗
