Sugarcane farmers are planning a massive protest in Gangapur, near Mundaragi in Gadag district, this Monday. Their ire is directed at Vijayanagar Sugars for launching its crushing operations without bothering to inform the local growers.
“As stakeholders of the factory, we farmers are entitled to be informed about the crushing season. The factory management has failed in this fundamental duty, leaving us with no option but to picket the sugar factory,” stated Veeranagouda Patil, Secretary of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, from Gadag on Sunday.
Beyond the lack of communication, farmers are particularly incensed by the exorbitant transportation fees levied by the factory.
“The factory is unfairly burdening growers by deducting an excessive amount for sugarcane cutting and transportation,” Mr. Patil explained. “While the Union government has set a price of ₹3,329 per tonne for sugarcane crushing, the factory has declared a mere ₹2,565 per tonne. This significant difference is solely due to these unfair transportation deductions.”
Mr. Patil further elaborated that the factory’s management has consistently ignored the demands of growers from Gadag, Koppal, and Vijayanagara districts, who are their primary suppliers. “Previously, the management would hold crucial meetings with the Gadag Deputy Commissioner, the Mundargi Tahsildar, and sugarcane growers. This year, they skipped it entirely. To add insult to injury, the factory intends to begin crushing a day before a meeting convened by the Gadag Deputy Commissioner for all stakeholders, including sugar factory managements and officials. This blatant disregard is why we are protesting.”