Mysuru, karnataka: Sugarcane growers have called on the Karnataka government to urge the Centre to revise the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) fixed for the 2025-26 season. They have and also demanded that income statements of the sugar mills should be reviewed by both the State government and the Centre.
On Tuesday, a group of farmers submitted a memorandum to the tahsildar of Nanjangud, raising their concerns. Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj, President of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association, criticized the FRP of Rs 3,550 per tonne, set for sugarcane with a recovery rate of 10.25%, as unfair and unscientific.
The income statements of the sugar mills should also be reviewed by both the State government and the Centre, he said while demanding distribution of excess profits to the farmers, reported The Hindu. It also demanded that sugar mills bear the cost of harvesting and transportation.
Among other demands, the farmers’ body called for mandatory installation of weighing machines in front of all sugar factories, to be monitored by the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and the Department of Co-operation. “Farmers should receive digital SMS alerts immediately after their cane is weighed,” Bhagyaraj said.
He also called for bilateral agreements between sugar mills and farmers, and proposed forming a local committee of farmers and experts to ensure transparency in measuring sugar recovery rates.
Bhagyaraj noted that the FRP had been raised by just Rs. 150 per tonne compared to last year, despite sharp increases in input costs. “With labour, transport, fertilizers, and wages all going up, this Rs. 150 hike only translates to about 15 paise per kilogram. It’s not enough,” he said.
Bhagyaraj urged the State government to take firm steps to protect farmers’ interests, saying, “We need action, not just promises.”
