Farmers meet Shivaraj Singh Chouhan in Karnataka’s Mysuru, seek redressal of their grievances 

A delegation of farmers met Union Agriculture Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan on Friday and submitted a memorandum demanding urgent measures for farmers’ welfare and redressal of their grievances. The Minsiter was in Mysuru to participate in the 110th birth anniversary of Shivaratri Rajendra Swami of Suttur Mutt.

The delegation, led by H. Bhagyaraj, president, Karnataka State Sugarcane Cultivators Association, called for immediate implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan report, and the enactment of a law making Minimum Support Price (MSP) statutory so as to benefit the farmers.

The Minister was also urged to ensure that agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, and dairy farming, etc., was excluded from international trade agreements.

Among key demands, the farmers sought year-round procurement centres at the gram panchayat level, complete waiver of agricultural loans, and wanted a higher Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane.

Other demands included reforms in crop insurance to cover fields directly, and pension schemes for farmers over 60. Small and marginal farmers should receive ₹25 lakh for family security in case of death, the memorandum said.

Calling for immediate approval of the Kalasa Banduri and Mekedatu projects, the farmers also sought exempting agricultural products from GST, sought support prices of ₹25,000 per quintal for coconut, and ₹20,000 per quintal for turmeric.

Another delegation, comprising farmers from the State Federation of Farmers’ Association also met Mr. Chouhan, and called for an end to the procurement of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, announcement of loan waivers for farmers across India, and the enactment of a law to make MSP mandatory.