Latest news with #KarnatakaStateSugarcaneGrowers'Association
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Farmers to lay siege to Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha on August 20 over sugarcane dues, pricing issues
Bengaluru is set to witness a major farmers' protest on August 20, as members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association announced plans to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha, pressing the government to meet their long-pending demands, reported The Hindu. Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, H. Bhagyaraj, president of the sugarcane growers' association, said farmers would also stage a 'satyagraha' at Freedom Park on the same day. Although the nation marked Independence Day on August 15, farmers had little to celebrate, Bhagyaraj remarked, accusing the government of failing to ensure scientific pricing for agricultural produce. He demanded that the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for the 2025-26 season be fixed at ₹4,500 per tonne, with harvesting and transportation costs borne by sugar factories. Also Read - Karnataka MLA sparks row claiming DK Shivakumar will be CM after December Farmers also flagged the issue of unscientific weighing scales, which they said led to repeated losses. They insisted that factories should install weighing machines in open view so farmers could monitor the process themselves. The association further alleged that sugar mills owe farmers a staggering ₹950 crore in pending dues, and urged the government to clear these payments immediately. On the issue of fertiliser shortage, Bhagyaraj accused both the State and Centre of politicising the matter. He demanded that authorities ensure smooth supply and act strictly against traders who create artificial scarcity by hoarding stocks or selling them above the official price. Also Read - Leopard claws 12-year-old boy during safari at Bengaluru, forest minister orders safety review 'Farmers cannot continue to suffer due to government inaction and factory negligence. On August 20, we will make our voice heard at Vidhana Soudha,' Bhagyaraj declared.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers demand fair compensation for land acquired for power transmission lines
Members of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association have demanded fair compensation for farmers who have lost their agricultural lands to the 66/11 kV and 220 kV power transmission lines passing through their fields under the Hunsur sub-division from the Gejjeyanavaddaragudi power station. The farmers, who took part in a protest, condemned the authorities for fixing compensation without providing proper information or holding consultations with landowners. They alleged that the officials prepared 'false reports' and fixed compensation without their consent. 'A minimum compensation of ₹6 lakh a gunta should be fixed,' the farmers demanded, pointing out that land prices in layout areas (in Kadakola and Vajamangala areas where power transmission lines also pass through their fields) range between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh a gunta, while the authorities are offering ₹50,000 to ₹60,000, which they described as inadequate. They urged the district administration to withdraw the mandatory Aadhaar registration and meter installation for agricultural pumpset users, continue the Akrama-Sakrama (regularisation) scheme for pumpsets, and provide free electricity connections to farmers whose lands are affected by the high-tension I-Power lines. They also demanded electricity connections to houses constructed within orchards and agricultural fields for the benefit of students and elderly residents. Additional Deputy Commissioner Shivraj received the memorandum from farmers in the absence of Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy. The association's State prganising secretary Attahalli Devaraj, district general secretary Baradanapura Nagaraj, district vice-president Marballi Neelakanthappa, and nearly 100 farmers took part in the protest.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Bagina politics': Farmers allege KRS honoured but Kabini ignored
The tradition of offering 'Bagina' to Kabini and the Krishnaraja Sagar on the same day was ignored this year which has irked a section of farmers who have criticised the government. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah offered Bagina, the traditional thanksgiving to the river, consequent to the reservoir attaining the full level at the KRS on Monday. All these years, the practice was to visit the Kabini first, make the offerings, and then visit the KRS to complete the rituals on the same day. Irked by the Chief Minister offering Bagina only at the KRS, the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association president H. Bhagyaraj and others staged a demonstration in Mysuru to voice their protest. Angered by the CM's move, Mr. Bhagyaraj said Bagina has been offered hastily at the KRS for political spectacle. But when the water is released to Tamil Nadu during distress years and when Karnataka has to comply with the Supreme Court's directives, it is the farmers from the Kabini command area whose interests are sacrificed by the government, Mr. Bhagyaraj added. The farmers also alleged that several illegal resorts have been built along the Kabini backwaters, though none of the development works previously announced by the government have materialised so far. The farmers also criticised the government for its alleged move to privatise the power sector and said that the installation of smart meters was a step in that direction. In due course, the installation will be extended to the agriculture sector as well, pushing farmers out of agriculture and facilitating the entry of the corporates to the agricultural sector, said Mr. Bhagyaraj. Opposing the compulsory installation of smart meters, the farmers urged the government to withdraw the notification failing which the association threatened to launch an agitation. They urged the government to fix the Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane at ₹4,000 a tonne for the current season. Other demands included putting an end to 'forced land acquisition' for development, ensuring reparation works of canals and channels in the rural hinterland, and filling up the waterbodies.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers seeks review of FRP for sugarcane fixed by Centre
Sugarcane growers have urged the State government to seek a review of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) fixed by the Centre for the year 2025-26. A delegation of farmers submitted a memorandum in this regard to tahsildar of Nanjangud near here on Tuesday. President of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj described the FRP of ₹3,550 a tonne announced by the Centre for sugarcane with a recovery of 10.25% for the year as 'unscientific and unjust'. Mr. Bhagyaraj said the Centre had increased the FRP by only ₹150 a tonne over the previous year even though the cost of production had increased substantially. 'As the cost of production, labour cost for harvest, transportation, fertilizers, and wages have all increased, this increase of ₹150 a tonne amounts to just 15 paise a kg', he lamented. Contending that a report by Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) had recommended a price of ₹4,500 a tonne, Mr. Bhagyaraj alleged that the Centre had increased the FRP by only ₹150 a tonne due to 'pressure from sugar factory owners and capitalists'. Lok Sabha members should also put pressure on the Centre to re-evaluate the FRP rate, he said. The farmers' body have demanded the installation of weighing machines in front of all sugar factories by the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and the Department of Co-operation. 'Digital SMS alerts should be sent to the farmers immediately after weighing,' said Mr. Bhagyaraj, in the statement. Demanding bilateral agreements between the sugar mills and the farmers, he said a committee comprising local farmers and experts should be constituted to prevent fraud in recovery rates of sugarcane. The income statements of the sugar mills should be reviewed by both the State government and the Centre, he said while demanding distribution of excess profits to the farmers. The government should intervene to protect the interests of the farmers, and that the sugar factories should be made to bear the costs of transportation and harvesting, he said. The association has demanded immediate settlement of last year's pending dues amounting to ₹950 crore, and that the Hullahalli road be immediately repaired, and the Hura lift irrigation project be completed soon.
