Sugarcane Farmers Stage Road Block Protests Across Karnataka

Intensifying their agitation over their demand for a hike in the procurement price of sugarcane, farmers in North Karnataka staged a blockade of highways at several points on Saturday. 

The farmers staged a sit-in demonstration in front of buses at Belagavi bus stand on Saturday, while in Dharwad farmers tried to block the road. Agitation took place in Vijayapura and Bagalkote, sources said.

In view of the



intensifying agitation, Belagavi and Dharwad administration issued prohibitory orders banning blockade of highways. The sugarcane farmers have been demanding fixation of remunerative prices for their produce and fulfilment of other demands. 

Their key demand is fixation of Rs 5,500 per tonne for procuring sugarcane, restoring the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) base recovery to 9.5 per cent and reviewing the Centre's ethanol policy.