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Bengaluru, Nov 6 (IANS) The Karnataka Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday held a three-hour meeting at the Vidhana Soudha to discuss the ongoing crisis of sugarcane farmers, which has led to widespread protests across north Karnataka.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the Chief Minister announced that he would hold talks with sugar mill owners on Friday morning and meet farmer leaders in the afternoon.
Siddaramaiah said the Cabinet has decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the demands of farmers and the impact of central policies on the sugar sector.
“The FRP has been determined by the BJP-led central government. Farmers should not fall prey to the double standards of BJP leaders in the state, who have always cheated them,” he said. He raised questions as to why Union Minister Pralhad Joshi “did not attend the farmers’ protest meeting.”
The Chief Minister said the Cabinet has passed a resolution to discuss with the Prime Minister the consequences of Central policies related to sugar export ban and FRP determination. “I am closely monitoring the ongoing protests in Belagavi, Bagalkot and other districts. Instructions have been issued to officials to hold talks with both sugar mill owners and farmers,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said the Belagavi deputy commissioner had convinced the factory owners to pay Rs 3,200 per tonne for 11.25 per cent recovery and Rs 3,100 per tonne for 10.25 per cent recovery, excluding cutting and transportation charges.
“However, the opposition is trying to politicize the issue, creating confusion,” he said, clarifying that the state’s role in sugarcane price determination is limited. “The Center decides the FRP every year. The responsibility of the state is only to ensure payment, proper weighing and timely settlement of the FRP,” he said.
He said, “The determination of FRP under the Essential Commodities Act is entirely the responsibility of the Centre. The recovery rate was increased to 10.25 per cent from 2022-23, which caused injustice to the farmers.” He said the last sugar MSP of Rs 31 per kg was fixed in 2019 and has not been revised.
Siddaramaiah accused the Center of stopping sugar exports and adopting a discriminatory ethanol policy. “Karnataka can produce 270 crore liters of ethanol, but the Center allocated only 47 crore liters for 2024-25,” he said.
He said his government has installed digital weighing machines in sugar mills and APMCs to ensure transparency. “In 2024-25, sugar mills crushed 522 lakh metric tonnes and farmers were paid Rs 19,569 crore,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said, “Despite this, the opposition parties are misleading innocent farmers. Our government believes in dialogue and democratic processes.”
He said the Cabinet has resolved to urge the Prime Minister to immediately intervene to revise the FRP, reduce the recovery rate and allow sugar exports. He said, “No matter what challenges come our government will remain firmly pro-farmer.”
–IANS
MKA/PGH