DK Shivakumar says no funds for sugarcane farmers
Hundreds of farmers from Haveri, Dharwad, and nearby districts converged at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Monday, briefly blocking the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway to demand Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane alongside a State Advised Price of Rs 1,000 per tonne.
Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar held discussions with sugar factory owners and growers at the Soudha, declining immediate cane pricing decisions due to severe financial strain. Highlighting multi-thousand-crore liabilities, drought-related impacts on power generation and state revenues, and a decade of stagnant sugar prices, Shivakumar stated that public spending requires existing funds rather than unbacked promises. Appealing for patience, he assured farmers that his administration seeks a permanent resolution to the long-standing pricing conflict.
