Afzalpur bandh observed demanding ₹3,500 per tonne sugarcane price

Farmers under the banner of the Sugarcane Growers’ Association observed a bandh in Afzalpur, Kalaburagi district, on Thursday, demanding a fair price of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane and the fulfilment of other pending demands.

From early morning, hundreds of farmers staged a protest at Basaveshwar Circle, disrupting vehicular movement in the town for hours. Traffic between Kalaburagi–Solapur and Vijayapura–Ghattargi routes was affected, causing inconvenience to commuters and travellers. The bandh also caused difficulties for pilgrims from Maharashtra heading to Deval Gangapur, a popular pilgrimage centre that houses the Dattatreya Temple, where the Karthik Mahotsav and a community feast were being held.

Protesting farmers blocked four major roads, set tyres on fire, and raised slogans against the government and sugar factories, accusing them of neglecting growers’ welfare. They also marched through the main market area, appealing to traders to close their shops. Most commercial establishments across the town remained shut in solidarity with the agitation.

Agitating farmers set tyres on fire in Afzalpur, Kalaburagi district, on Thursday, demanding price of ₹3,500 per tonne of sugarcane.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The protesters alleged widespread irregularities in weighment and measurement at sugar mills and complained that tractor owners and harvesting teams were collecting illegal payments from farmers for transporting and cutting cane.

“All these exploitative practices must stop. The government and factories must fix ₹3,500 per tonne as the sugarcane price and start crushing immediately. Until then, we will continue our agitation and road blockade,” Ramesh Hugar, president of District Sugarcane Growers’ Association, declared at the agitating site.

At a few places, schoolchildren also joined the protest, raising slogans against the government and urging it to address the issues faced by sugarcane growers. Farmers continued their agitation at Basaveshwar Circle in the town until Afzalpur Tahsildar visited them around 5:00 p.m.

“The Tahsildar said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would hold a meeting with sugar mill owners on Friday to find a solution to the cane price issue. We, the agitating farmers, have decided to call off the protest for the day and wait for the outcome of the meeting. If the meeting fails to take a favourable decision, we will reassemble in the town and resume the agitation with greater intensity,” Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, district president of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), told reporters.

Prominent leaders who participated in the protest included Bhaganana Kumbar, Siddu Dannoor, Lakshmiputra Manami, Dhanu Patate, Sharangouda Mali Patil, Basavaraj Wali, Raju Badadal, Siddaram Sultannapur, Revanasiddayya Math, Dhareppa Gowda Biradar, and Sharanappa Melakundi.