Sugarcane Farmers’ Protest Turns Violent Near Mudhol
Sugarcane growers from Mudhol and surrounding taluks in Bagalkot district have been staging intense protests over cane pricing and delayed payments from sugar factories. What began as sit‑ins and tractor rallies escalated in mid‑November when a group of agitated farmers allegedly set around 20 sugarcane‑loaded tractors on fire near Mudhol, drawing statewide attention to their demands. Farmers say that rising input costs, water expenses and loan burdens have made the current Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) unsustainable, and they accuse mills of dragging their feet on clearing outstanding dues. They have been pressing the state government for a higher procurement price per tonne, strict timelines for payment, and interest on delayed amounts. Leaders of farmer organisations argue that Bagalkot, along with neighbouring Belagavi and Haveri, is a major sugarcane belt and deserves a better deal in pricing policies. Police and district officials have registered cases related to the arson incident and appealed for restraint while continuing talks with farmer representatives and mill owners. The state government has separately launched a new soil‑health and integrated water‑management project for sugarcane‑growing regions including Bagalkot, saying that long‑term solutions must combine fair pricing with sustainable farming practices. For visuals, you can use generic images of sugarcane fields, tractors in farms, or peaceful farmer gatherings, avoiding any specific incident photos unless you have rights to them.
