Bengaluru: Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Thursday called on the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government to act responsibly and hold talks with sugarcane farmers to address their demands, reports The Hawk.
Speaking to reporters at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru, Joshi said that the Central government fixes the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane ahead of every crushing season. “The state government and some ministers have been making various statements about sugarcane pricing. The Centre has already fixed the FRP at ₹350 per quintal,” he said.
Joshi noted that earlier, delays in ethanol procurement led to payment backlogs lasting three to four years, but the situation has now improved. “Currently, 97.2 percent of payments for the last sugar season have already been cleared. The state government must hold discussions with both factory owners and farmers to reach a fair solution instead of worsening the situation with careless statements,” he said.
The Union Minister also revealed that sugar mill owners have sought permission to export surplus sugar. “We estimate a surplus of around 15–20 lakh tonnes, and permission will be given to export about 15 lakh tonnes. They have also requested to export molasses, which has been approved,” he said.
Joshi urged the state government to step in and resolve farmers’ concerns over pricing. “Farmers are demanding ₹3,500 per tonne, while the Centre has fixed the FRP at ₹350 per quintal and allowed exports. The Chief Minister and ministers must intervene and settle the issue quickly. Delays and political statements will not help,” he said.
Highlighting the role of ethanol blending in stabilising the sugar industry, Joshi added, “Last year, ethanol blending reached 35 lakh metric tonnes — about 20 percent — which helped mills become more stable. The government must now focus on dialogue and resolution rather than allowing protests to continue.”
He further said, “When Karnataka ministers had earlier approached the Centre, we addressed their concerns and raised the FRP from ₹340 to ₹350. Now, not a single moment should be wasted — farmers should not be left protesting on the streets.”
When asked about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reported decision to convene a meeting, Joshi responded, “That’s a good step. He should hold talks and find a solution.”
Farmers in north Karnataka have been protesting for over a week, demanding that sugar factories fix the purchase price of sugarcane at ₹3,500 per tonne. The BJP’s state unit has extended its support to the agitation. The farmers’ organisations have given the government time until 7 p.m. on Thursday (November 6) to take a decision, warning that they will begin blocking national highways from Friday (November 7) if their demands are not met.
