Bengaluru: Karnataka’s sugarcane growers and sugar mill owners are expected to announce a final decision within two days after marathon talks in Belagavi produced a framework linking what mills pay farmers to the Centre’s decision on sugar’s minimum selling price (MSP), Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said.
The fresh development brings the negotiations closer to an agreement, but does not announce a final cane price. Farmers have sought time to discuss the proposal among themselves, Shivakumar said after the talks continued until midnight.
Cane price formula tied to sugar MSP
Shivakumar said farmers had spoken to a Union minister and received assurances. Mill owners had agreed to a framework under which the amount payable to growers would be decided in line with the Centre’s sugar MSP determination, he said.
The minimum selling price referred to here concerns sugar. The release does not specify a new rupee-per-tonne payment for sugarcane or announce that a revised rate has already taken effect.
“Farmers must survive, and factories must survive too,” Shivakumar said. He added that the government’s priority was farmers’ livelihoods and that it would support both sides in reaching an agreement.
Farmers seek two days for a final decision
According to Shivakumar, growers asked for two days to hold internal discussions. He said farmers and factory owners were close to an agreement and would announce their final decision after those consultations.
He also said the state government was ready to speak to the Centre at any time and would support further discussions by the growers and mills. Farmers, he said, remained confident that the Union minister would honour the assurance given to them.
Five rounds of talks in Belagavi
The discussions were held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and the Circuit House. The government account described about 10 hours of deliberations in five rounds, beginning around 11 am and continuing until midnight.
Representatives of 79 of the 80 sugar factories participated, along with farmers. Nine ministers and 70 legislators were involved in the discussions, according to the release.
Participants included Satish Jarkiholi, Laxman Savadi, Santosh Lad, Yashavantharaya Gouda Patil and MLA N H Konareddi; farmer leaders Badagalapura Nagendra, Choonappa Pujari, Kuruburu Shanthakumar and Chukki Nanjundaswamy; and representatives of the sugar mills.
Sugarcane talks: our October 26 coverage
- Shivakumar Says He Will Hold Talks With Sugarcane Growers and Mill Owners
- Shivakumar Meets Sugar Mill Owners in Belagavi, Discusses Cane Support Price
- Reach a Settlement Even if It Adds to Your Burden, Shivakumar Tells Sugar Mill Owners
- Central Panel Expected in Karnataka on October 29; Shivakumar Links Growers’ Relief to Sugar MSP
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