Hubballi, Sep 29 — Farmers from various districts of Karnataka intensified their protest in Hubballi on Tuesday, demanding a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane, an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar and the implementation of the Dr M.S. Swaminathan Commission report.
Thousands of farmers gathered at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle. They later staged a protest near the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, raising slogans against the Centre and warning that they would continue their agitation until their demands were met.
The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene organised the protest, with farmers from Dharwad, Belagavi and other districts participating. Organisers said more than 2,000 farmers had gathered at the venue.
Initially, farmers planned to lay siege to Joshi’s Hubballi office, but shifted to Nehru Maidan after police reportedly denied permission. They later marched from Chennamma Circle towards the Union Minister’s residence.
Police deployed heavily around Joshi’s office and residence, with barricades erected to prevent protesters from advancing. Tension prevailed briefly when some farmers attempted to remove the barricades. More than 250 police personnel were deployed around Nehru Maidan and other key locations.
Traffic was disrupted on several major roads in Hubballi as farmers staged sit-ins, leaving vehicles stranded in long queues stretching for kilometres.
The farmers demanded that the government announce a scientifically determined remunerative price for agricultural produce, fix the minimum price of sugarcane at Rs 5,500 per tonne for the current crushing season and ensure sugar factories begin operations. They also sought an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar from Rs 31 per kg to Rs 60 per kg, citing rising cultivation costs.
Farmer leader Chunnappa Poojari said cultivation costs had increased nearly threefold between 2019 and 2026. He demanded sugarcane prices be determined scientifically based on estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). He also sought an additional payment of Rs 300 per tonne to farmers supplying sugarcane during the 2025–26 season.
Poojari further demanded that the Centre and state government waive farmers’ loans in full, criticising the state for providing only Rs 2,500 in crop-loss compensation.
Farmers also called for the implementation of the Mahadayi irrigation project, declaration of minimum support prices for all crops, scientific determination of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane and purchase of the state’s entire ethanol production.
Addressing protesters, farmer leader Shashikant Guruji of Inchageri Math accused Joshi of failing to address farmers’ concerns and urged him to meet the protesters in person. He said farmers expected a direct response rather than a video message.
Leaders warned that the protest would continue until the government responded. They said the next phase of the agitation would be decided after waiting until 5 p.m., with more farmers expected to join.