Siddaramaiah Slams Centre For Fixing Price On Sugarcane, To Meet Factory Owners Tomorrow

Last Updated:November 06, 2025, 17:29 IST

Chief minister Siddaramaiah criticizes Centre over FRP for sugarcane, plans meetings with farmers and factory owners amid protests in North Karnataka demanding ₹3500 per tonne.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (File Photo)

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday accused the Union government of taking advantage of innocence of sugarcane farmers by fixing the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and said he would be meeting with the famers and factory owners on Friday to discuss the issue.

“The FRP has been fixed by the central government, the stated government had no role apart from monitoring it’s implementation," Siddaramaiah said on the farmers demanding a higher price for their produce.

Sugarcane growers especially in North Karnataka have been protesting demanding payment of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane.

“Both Congress and BJP are the owners of the sugar factory. BJP leaders are mostly the owners. I have called a meeting with the factory owners tomorrow. I have called a meeting with the farmers. 77% of Gujarat has allowed the production and sale of ethanol, while we have only allowed 17%," the CM said.

The CM said: “We will discuss the demand to pay more than FRP. I will also meet the farmers tomorrow after the meeting with factory owners."

“I am writing a letter to the PM seeking time to meet him. If he gives time, I will meet the PM and discuss issues with the farmers and their demands since they are requesting Rs 3500/tonne. We will take a final decision tomorrow after discussing with owners and farmers," he said.

Earlier, Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil promised to end the deadlock between sugarcane farmers and factories, and resolve the issue of pricing in favour of farmers, The Hindu reported.

“I am the Sugar Minister for Karnataka. The Union Sugar Minister is Pralhad Joshi, who is also from Karnataka. But no one — neither the agitating farmers, nor the media — has mentioned his name in relation to this issue as yet," he said.

According to Outlook, the protest at Gurlapur Cross has now entered its seventh day and has spread across multiple north Karnataka districts, including Belagavi, Bagalkote, and Haveri.

In response to Siddaramaiah’s remarks, Karnataka BJP said in a post on X: “Back in 2013-14, frustrated by the Congress government’s failure to increase sugarcane prices, farmer Vitthal Bhimappa drank poison and committed suicide.! Today, frustrated by Siddaramaiah’s negligence in not providing support price for sugarcane, farmer Lakshappa Ganadhal has drunk poison."

It further said: “The ministers of the Congress government have forgotten their departments and are immersed in feasts, and the state’s administrative machinery has collapsed. In a situation where the farmers’ condition is serious, the Siddaramaiah government is not doing the work of providing justice to them. Sugarcane growers in Belagavi are frustrated, so the Chief Ministers should resolve the problems of sugarcane growers without neglect and provide relief."

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