District president of Karnataka Pranth Raita Sangha Sharanabasappa Mamshetty addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) has urged the State government to immediately implement the State Advised Price (SAP) and announce an additional ₹900 a tonne for sugarcane.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, KPRS district president Sharanabasappa Mamshetty said that farmers spent nearly 12 months growing sugarcane incurring high costs on fertilisers, weeding, harvesting and other farm work.
However, they do not get a fair return for their investment and labour. He said that farmers are also facing problems due to drought, falling groundwater levels and poor rainfall.
Mr. Mamshetty said that the cost of producing a tonne of sugarcane is ₹3,500 and demanded that the price be fixed at ₹5,000 a tonne based on sugar recovery.
He also sought the implementation of the minimum support price (MSP) based on the C2+50% formula recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission.
He said that the State government should fix an additional price above the Centre’s Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) under the Karnataka Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Act.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling, he said that the State has the power to fix SAP and should immediately announce the additional ₹900 a tonne.
The sangha also demanded that sugarcane be harvested within 12 months, farmers be given a fair share of the income from by-products such as molasses, ethanol, bagasse and power.
Mr. Mamshetty demanded that weighing machines be installed at the main gates of sugar factories, that sugarcane-laden vehicles be weighed in the presence of farmers and that officials carry out regular checks to prevent cheating.
He also sought an increase in ethanol blending to 25%, regulation of harvesting and transportation charges and bilateral agreements between sugar factories and farmers on harvesting and transportation.
Mr. Mamshetty said that these measures are necessary to reduce the financial burden on sugarcane growers and ensure them a fair return for their produce.
A memorandum containing the demands was submitted to the district administration on Thursday. It was addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister for Sugar and Textiles Rudrappa Lamani.
Published – August 27, 2026 08:26 pm IST
