Belagavi, November 5 — Sugarcane growers in Belagavi remained divided on Thursday after local sugar mills agreed to pay ₹3,600 per tonne. Some growers accepted the offer and ended their week-long protest, while others continued to demand a higher price. Police detained more than 100 farmers and protest leaders during a separate Jail Bharo action.
District in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi announced the agreement after talks involving growers, mill representatives and district officials. Mills had initially offered ₹3,500 per tonne before raising their bid by ₹100. The agreed rate applies to mills in Belagavi district and is about ₹50 per tonne higher than last season’s price.
Groups that opposed the deal sought better payments from mills and an additional State Advised Price from the Karnataka government. Police took protesters into custody at Mukti Math on the outskirts of Belagavi and near Mudalagi. Authorities had imposed restrictions on gatherings in parts of the district ahead of the planned action.
After the settlement, the district’s 29 sugar factories were expected to begin crushing cane on Thursday. Jarkiholi said mills had agreed to pay more if the Union government revised sugar or sugarcane prices. He also said Karnataka could revisit the demand for a State Advised Price after a year.