Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs, and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi assured sugarcane growers in Karnataka that the Centre would consider their demands positively.

He gave the assurance at a post-midnight meeting with farmers’ leaders in Hubballi on October 18. The meeting, held in the Government Guest House, went on till 3 a.m. on October 19. The Minister discussed the demand of farmers for a remunerative price for sugarcane, and other issues. Farmers’ leaders decided to consult the wider farming community before announcing their next course of action.

Chunappa Pujeri, who represented farmers in the meeting, pressed for an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane, complete procurement of ethanol produced in Karnataka, and separate pricing for sugar meant for commercial and domestic consumption, with a higher price for commercially used sugar.

Responding to the demands, Mr. Joshi said the Centre would make efforts to address the issues by placing them before a committee. The committee was expected to begin functioning in three days, he said, urging the farmers to co-operate with the process and allow some time for their demands to be considered.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr. Pujeri said a meeting of farmers would be held at Tegur in Dharwad district at 11 a.m. on October 19. The outcome of the discussions with the Union Minister would be explained to the farmers, and their views would be sought before taking a decision on continuation of the agitation.

Those who attended the meeting included farmers’ organisation’s honorary president Shashikant Guruji, MP and former CM Jagadish Shettar, MLAs C.C. Patil, M.R. Patil and Mahesh Tenginkai, Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Snehal R., CID Deputy Inspector-General of Police Bhimashankar Guled, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase, and Dharwad Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya.