Belagavi Talks Fail to Resolve Sugarcane Price Stalemate
Farmers escalate protests in Maharashtra as negotiations in Belagavi yield no results.
Negotiations in Belagavi between farmers and sugar factory representatives failed to reach an agreement.
Farmers in Maharashtra are demanding Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane amid ongoing protests.
Former MP Raju Shetti emphasizes the need for unity among farmers to address pricing disparities.
Efforts to break the deadlock over sugarcane pricing in Belagavi were unsuccessful on Tuesday, as multiple meetings between farmers' leaders and sugar factory representatives did not yield a consensus. The situation escalated further as farmers in Maharashtra intensified their protests, blocking the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway in Kolhapur district, according to reports.
The meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office faced delays due to disagreements among farmer groups regarding representation. Following this, District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi engaged in discussions with both farmers and sugar factory representatives at a different location. Jarkiholi, who has ownership in several sugar factories, indicated that the factories were prepared to pay the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and initiate crushing operations. He also mentioned that they were willing to provide written assurances for additional payments should the Union government adjust the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for sugar.
Despite these offers, farmers rejected the proposal, leading to the meeting concluding without any agreement. In a subsequent effort to address the issue, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Shindhe organized another meeting at the zilla panchayat hall, which saw significant farmer participation, with discussions extending late into the night.
In Maharashtra, the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana initiated an indefinite blockade at the Kini Toll Naka on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway. Traffic was redirected through alternative routes near Kagal at the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. Raju Shetti, the former MP and leader of the organization, stated that the blockade would persist indefinitely as farmers demand Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane, which they want to be shared between the sugar factories and the state government.
Currently, sugar factories are offering prices ranging from Rs 3,250 to Rs 3,700 per tonne, depending on recovery rates in various districts. Shetti also called for uniform sugarcane pricing across Maharashtra, highlighting that while factories began crushing operations in late October, they were not providing consistent prices to farmers. He urged for unity among farmers, questioning why factory owners from different political backgrounds could collaborate on pricing issues while farmers remained fragmented.
