State Sugarcane Farmers’ Association demanded that the statutory minimum price of sugarcane should be fixed at 150 per cent of the cost of cultivation (CoC).

Talking to media persons on Tuesday, Kurubur Shanthakumar, president of the association, said that the Swaminathan Committee report recommended that the statutory minimum price of sugarcane should be 50 per cent added to the cost of cultivation, which is approximately Rs 1,500 for one tonne of sugarcane. “The reality is that sugar factories buy sugarcane from farmers at around Rs 1,000 per tonne instead of the suggested Rs 2,250,” Mr Shanthakumar said.

He said the condition of sugarcane farmers in Bijapur, Bidar and Belgaum districts is still worse.

“The Centre gives an export subsidy of Rs 200 to sugarcane factories, the same subsidy amount should be given to farmers involved in jaggery production,” said a member of the association, Shivanand Gurumath from Haveri.
“The government collects Rs 84 as purchase tax from sugar factories. This amount should reach farmers who hardly get any benefit,” said Dadagowda Patil from Bagalkot, another association member.