Vijayapura growers want profit-sharing formula to be extended to the whole State

Belagavi Sugarcane farmers in Vijayapura district have demanded that the State government ensure that the profit-sharing formula announced by the Belagavi district administration between factories and farmers be extended to the whole State. A delegation led by farmers leaders submitted a memorandum to the State government saying that they will not allow sugarcane crushing operations unless the 10 sugar factories in the district announce that they will agree to give a base price of ₹3,600 per tonne and promise to share profits if the price of sugar crosses ₹45 per kg. “In such a case, the farmers will get 75% of the profits and the factory the balance 25%.

The current wholesale price hovers between ₹45 a kg and ₹55 a kg. If this price remains stable till the end of the crushing season, farmers will take home ₹4,000-₹4,400 per tonne of sugarcane. This will help farmers who are in distress due to the steep rise in the cost of fertilisers, other inputs and labour,” the delegation said.

Leaders Arvind Kulkarni, Basavaraj Patil, Sangamesh Biradar and others have signed the memorandum.