Cane farming – pic for represntation only
Satteppa Patil, a harvesting machine owner from Chikkodi, said he had invested nearly Rs 1 crore in purchasing a sugarcane harvester. “If the season is delayed and the machine operates for less than 80 days, I will incur losses. It needs to run for at least 100 to 120 days to meet operating expenses and repay bank loans,” he said.
As a result, thousands of migrant labourers who had arrived for the harvesting season were left without work, severely impacting their livelihoods. Belagavi: Thousands of sugarcane harvesting workers in Belagavi district have heaved a sigh of relief with harvesting and crushing operations resuming after a month-long dispute over cane prices was resolved. The prolonged agitation by farmers’ organisations seeking a higher sugarcane price had brought harvesting activity across the district to a near standstill. Every year, large numbers of workers from neighbouring Maharashtra migrate to Belagavi through sugar mills to participate in harvesting operations. The delay this season left many of them waiting for weeks without a steady source of income. The disruption also hit the owners of tractors, bullock carts and mechanised harvesting units that rely on the sugar season for earnings. Many had invested heavily in equipment and were worried that a shortened season would affect their ability to recover costs. The deadlock ended after negotiations involving farmer leaders, sugar factory representatives and district authorities. An agreement on cane pricing cleared the way for harvesting and crushing activities to resume across the district. Following the settlement, sugar mills have intensified field operations to clear standing crops and ensure timely processing of cane. Factories are now gearing up for full-scale crushing in the weeks ahead.
Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. The restart of operations has brought much-needed relief not only to farm labourers but also to transporters, equipment owners and others linked to the sugar economy. With mills accelerating procurement and harvesting, employment opportunities for thousands of workers are expected to improve and the season is likely to regain momentum after a delayed start. Download the TOI App.