Sugarcane farmers protested by blocking traffic at Hattaragi toll plaza in Hukkeri taluk on Tuesday
Protests were reported in Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Dharwad, affecting traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru highway and NH 50 near Nidagundi. The Centre also asked the state to act against mills on sugar recovery rates, the 9% wastage deduction and discrepancies in weighing.
They said the stir would continue as Monday’s talks with Union ministers in Delhi “brought no immediate decision on prices”. He said it was the first time the Centre had invited cane growers to Delhi, and discussions with farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra were “constructive”. “Modi govt is with you,” Joshi said. Joshi said Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have already implemented SAP and Karnataka has been urged to follow suit. Chief minister DK Shivakumar , who spoke to Joshi Monday night in New Delhi, said the issue needed consultations with other states. They have said they will speak to everyone and arrive at a decision,” he said.
Near Hattargi toll plaza in Hukkeri taluk, farmers blocked both carriageways, with some lying on the road to prevent vehicles from passing. Meanwhile, Union food minister Pralhad Joshi rejected claims that the Delhi meeting had failed and appealed to farmers to withdraw the agitation. Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , secretaries, three state ministers and farmer representatives attended. “But this cannot be done by one or two ministries alone. Several ministries are involved, and all state govts have a role to play. Before determining prices, we obtain information from state govts. The govt will soon have good news for cane growers, so there is no need to blockade roads. “Farmers want a higher price for their cane. We discussed their situation and the condition of factories. This is not an issue confined to our state.