Karnataka CM Shivakumar to Meet Protesting Sugarcane Farmers Demanding Higher Price for Cane

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is set to meet protesting sugarcane farmers in Belagavi district on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in an effort to defuse an agitation that has included highway blockades and a padayatra. The meeting is expected to take place in Channamma Kittur, where the farmers' march has reached after four days.

The Chief Minister's Plan

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said he was going to Belagavi to speak to the state's sugarcane farmers, who he said are working very hard and facing difficulties. He said he understands their situation but that there are several issues involved, and that this is a national-level matter that is not confined to Karnataka. He is scheduled to arrive by special flight in the afternoon and travel by road to Channamma Kittur, where he will hold talks with representatives of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and the Hasiru Sene at around 5 pm. He said he would try to understand their concerns and see whether the state can provide assistance.

What the Farmers Want

The protesting farmers have put forward a series of demands. They want sugarcane growers to be paid between Rs 5,500 and Rs 6,000 per tonne of cane, and they want the minimum selling price of sugar fixed by the Centre for sugar factories to be raised from Rs 31 to Rs 60 per kilogram. They are also asking that all the ethanol produced by sugar factories be purchased without discrimination, that the Centre increase the Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane, and that the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commission be implemented. Some farmers have also sought a clear reply from the state on a demand for an additional Rs 1,000 per tonne in financial assistance from the state government.

Highway Blockades and the Padayatra

The agitation began earlier this week with farmers blocking national highways at several places, including near the Kugnoli check-post and the Hirebagewadi toll plaza in Belagavi district. Their meeting with Union ministers in Delhi a few days earlier did not lead to an immediate decision on prices. The protest then spread to other places in the district and turned into a padayatra that has moved across several days towards Channamma Kittur. The farmers have said they will continue the agitation until their demands are met.

The Centre's Committee

In response, the Union government constituted a committee on Wednesday to examine the demands for higher payments to sugarcane farmers and a revision in the minimum selling price of sugar, amid concerns over rising production costs and the financial health of sugar mills. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi explained that the Centre fixes the Fair and Remunerative Price that is paid to growers and a minimum selling floor price for millers, while state governments have the authority to announce an additional State Advised Price. He argued that since sugar is already selling well above the current floor price, the need for an increase is not clear, and he pointed out that five states have announced a State Advised Price but Karnataka has not.

A Political Challenge

The issue puts the state government in a delicate position, as farmers expect support from both the Centre and the state. Shivakumar has said the matter requires consultations with other states and has held discussions with the Union minister. The opposition has accused the state of inaction, while the government says it is working with the Centre. Any announcement of financial assistance would have to be weighed against the state's finances and the interests of sugar mills.

The outcome of the meeting will be closely watched by farmers across the sugar belt, as it could determine whether the agitation continues or the protesters agree to a negotiated solution.

This report is based on published news coverage and statements attributed to the leaders and farmers' groups involved.