Sugarcane farmers in about 20 districts across Karnataka blocked the National Highways for two hours on Thursday to protest the State Government's failure to announce the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for the 2022-23 season, which begins in October.
According to Kurbur Shantkumar, President of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Farmers Association, growers are also seeking an increase in FRP to Rs 3500 per tonne of cane due to rising input costs such as fertiliser, labour, harvest, and transportation charges. He stated that the State has held four inter-ministerial meetings but has yet to announce the FRP for the 2022-23 season.
Shantkumar also stated that Punjab has recently announced an increase in FRP for the 2022-23 season. Farmers in Punjab receive FRPs of Rs 3,800 per tonne, Rs 3,500 per tonne in Uttar Pradesh, and Rs 4400 per tonne in Gujarat; growers in Karnataka should receive a minimum of Rs 3,500 per tonne, according to Shantakumar.
He said the price of potash has increased by Rs 1000 per bag, DAP by Rs 500, and factories have already increased harvest and transportation charges by Rs 250 per tonne this season. Sugar factories charge between Rs 600 and Rs 900 per tonne for harvesting and transportation, depending on the distance between the farm and the mills.
Farmers demonstrated in districts including Mysuru, Belagavi, Davangere, Dharwad, Bellary, Kalaburgi, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gadag, Chamrajnagar, Hassan, and Bidar.
For the basic sugar recovery rate of 10.25 percent, the Centre has set a fair and remunerative price (FRP) of Rs 305 per quintal for the 2022-23 (Oct-Sept) season. The previous season's FRP at the Centre was Rs 290 per quintal, with a basic recovery rate of 10%.
Karnataka, the third largest producer of sugarcane after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, is expected to produce 7.5 crore tonnes of sugarcane this year, up from 6.33 crore tonnes the previous year, he said.
The FRP is the minimum that sugar mills must pay sugarcane farmers. It is set in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission on Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with state governments and other stakeholders. CCEA then gives its approval.
