Mysuru: The State Sugarcane Cultivators’ Association has called for an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the 2025–26 season, saying the current rate hike is insufficient and does not reflect the true cost of production.
A delegation led by association secretary Atahalli Devaraj met with authorities in Bengaluru on Wednesday to submit a list of demands aimed at improving conditions for sugarcane farmers.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Devaraj stated that the recent Rs. 150-per-tonne increase in the FRP, calling it unscientific. “A review must be conducted, and the price should be fixed at Rs. 4,500 a tonne as per the CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) report,” he further added.
The farmers also reiterated a long-standing demand for a fair share of profits from sugarcane by-products, such as ethanol and molasses. According to the association, although the government has set an additional price of Rs. 150 per tonne for these by-products, sugar mills have yet to pay farmers the amount due from the previous season (2024–25).
“The sugar mills owe farmers nearly Rs. 950 crore,” Devaraj said. “We want the government to ensure that this amount is released immediately.”
To increase transparency in the payment and weighing process, the association demanded that weighing machines be installed in front of sugar mills.
The delegation met with officials from the Directorate of Sugarcane Development and Sugar to discuss these and other concerns affecting growers across the state.
“We have placed our demands before the authorities and hope they take swift action to address the issues faced by thousands of sugarcane farmers,” Devaraj said.
