Overview
- Farmers pressed for a minimum support price of Rs 5,500 per tonne, a floor sugar selling price of Rs 60 per kg, and a review of ethanol procurement rules that affect mill revenue.
- The planned dialogue follows a suspended ‘Hubballi Chalo’ protest that was called off after late‑night discussions involving Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and regional leaders.
- Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he will hear farmers and factory owners separately and then together after Dasara and that he will invite central ministers, MPs and local legislators to the talks.
- Shivakumar has formally sought Centre intervention by asking for a revised sugar MSP, a reset of the base recovery rate for FRP calculations, and reconsideration of the exclusion of sugarcane‑based ethanol from recent OMC tenders.
- Delays in the crushing season have left ripe cane standing in fields, reducing weight and sugar content and raising the risk of missed payments to growers while the state readies measures such as digital weighment, inspections and lab accreditation to protect farmers.