Farmers threaten to resume agitation if sugarcane arrears are not paid in time

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has said that the State government is not acting against sugar factories that have retained a large amount of arrears to be paid to sugarcane growers.

Activists have threatened to stage a State-wide protest if the State government does not ensure that the factories pay all the arrears within the stipulated period of two weeks.

In a memorandum submitted to the State government, KRRS leader Chunappa Pujari said that eight of the 28 sugar factories in Belagavi district owe ₹1,554 crore arrears to growers.

The factories that owe arrears to growers are Ugar Sugars, Satish Sugars, Shivashakti Sugars, Vishwaraj Sugars, Athani Sugars, ICPl Alagawadi Beereshwar Sugars and Renuka Sugars in Burlatti and Munnoli.

“I want to remind the State government of the 11-day protest at Gurlapur Cross for remunerative prices. Farmers have ensured that the State government accept their conditions. We suspended the agitation only on the condition that farmers are paid fair prices. If this does not happen, we will resume the agitations,” he said.

Ashok blames CM

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP MLA R. Ashok accused the State government of failing to protect the interests of farmers.

“The Congress government is not showing willingness to implement the 15 days rule for payment of arrears. It seems that the Chief Minister is busy in protecting his chair rather than protecting the interests of farmers. Farmers are forced to take to the streets to get redressal. This raises doubts as to whether the Congress government is alive or dead. The Chief Minister should instruct factories to clear all arrears,” he said in a social media post.

Mr. Pujari told The Hindu that factories across the State have retained arrears.

“Of the 90 factories in the State, 76 are functional. They include the 28 in Belagavi, 12 in Bagalkot and nine in Vijayapura. In total, they owe arrears of over ₹4,400 crore, of which around 30% is in Belagavi district alone. That is why we are starting from Belagavi. We will go to all districts and ensure that all farmers get justice. However, our movement is not limited to sugarcane alone. We want all farmers, who grow all types of crops, to get fair and remunerative prices. In fact, we have written to the State government welcoming the announcement of Indira food kits for the poor,” he said.

“However, we have urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to buy all foodgrains to be distributed through this scheme, directly from farmers. If the State government can sell seeds and fertilisers through the Raitha Samparka Kendra outlets in all hobli headquarters, then it can buy our produce from the same outlets,” he said.