Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar formally appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging direct Union government intervention to resolve escalating agitations by sugarcane cultivators across northern and central districts of the state. The appeal followed widespread farmer sit-ins outside cooperative and private sugar crushing mills over unremunerative sugarcane procurement prices and mounting dues.
Shivakumar underscored that while the state administration has mediated multiple rounds of negotiations with sugar factory owners, statutory constraints surrounding the Union-mandated Fair and Remunerative Price formula restrict state-level pricing autonomy. The Deputy Chief Minister urged the central government to hike statutory FRP benchmarks, enhance ethanol blending procurement rates, and provide subsidized freight assistance for sugar exports to alleviate mill cash-flow constraints.
Agricultural union leaders warned that highway blockades and rail roko protests will intensify unless immediate financial settlements and revised procurement payments are credited to cultivators’ accounts. Central agriculture ministry officials confirmed receipt of the state’s memorandum, indicating that an inter-ministerial panel will examine the pricing demands in consultation with industry stakeholders.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/today-india-breaking-news-live-updates-19-october-2026-cjp-leaders-custody-latur-assault-video-kolkata-chorebagan-durga-puja-stampede-10927454/