Bagalkote farmers’ protest ends after breakthrough deal with sugar factories

Bagalkote: After days of high tension, heated protests and violent clashes, the Mudhol farmers’ agitation ended on Friday following a successful negotiation chaired by District In-charge Minister Shivanand Patil and the Deputy Commissioner.

The stalemate broke after sugar factory owners agreed to farmers’ key demand of paying Rs 3,300 per tonne of sugarcane, without linking it to the recovery rate. Farmers had staged a determined protest insisting that factories pay Rs 3,250 upfront, with the government adding Rs 50 later.

However, sugar mills initially refused, triggering a deadlock that escalated into a major confrontation. After prolonged discussions, it was decided that factories will pay Rs 3,200 as the first instalment, followed by Rs 50 from the factories and Rs 50 from the government, totalling Rs 3,300 per tonne.

Though not fully satisfied, farmers agreed to call off the protest. Originally, farmers had demanded Rs 3,500 per tonne, rejecting the government-announced price based on recovery and FRP norms. Subsequent rounds of talks gradually brought expectations down to Rs 3,300.

Farmers insisted that this amount should be fixed irrespective of recovery rate, but factory owners maintained that they would give Rs 3,300 only as the first instalment, followed by an additional Rs 100 from both sides later — a proposal farmers refused.

The disagreement led to four to five days of intense tussle, and multiple negotiation attempts failed. With no solution in sight, protests intensified dramatically. The agitation turned violent on Wednesday near the Sameerawadi Godavari Sugar Factory in Rabkavi-Banahatti taluk, where farmers attempted to lay siege to the premises.

Stone pelting broke out, more than five bikes were torched, and miscreants allegedly set 40–50 tractors on fire by pouring diesel over them. The situation prompted heavy police deployment and urgent intervention from district authorities.

Friday’s agreement finally cooled tensions, bringing relief to both villagers and officials. Meanwhile, even as the sugarcane crisis dominated northern Karnataka, preparations for the Winter Session of the Legislature began in Belagavi. The session, scheduled to commence at Suvarna Soudha from December 8, will discuss pending issues, including the recent unrest.

A review meeting led by the DC has already examined security and logistical arrangements. The resolution of the Mudhol dispute marks a major breakthrough for the administration, though farmers and factories remain wary about future price disagreements — a recurring flashpoint during every crushing season in the region.

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