Mon Nov 17 14:55:12 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the text you provided:
Summary:
On November 17, 2025, sugarcane farmers in Kalaburagi, India, staged a protest (“rasta roko”) against what they perceive as exploitative policies by sugar factories and both the State and Central governments. They are demanding a significantly higher Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, a uniform price across the state, and a fairer share of revenue from sugarcane by-products. They also allege manipulation of sugar recovery levels, delayed payments, and inaction by the government to protect their interests, especially in a year where other crops have failed due to excessive rainfall.
News Article:
Kalaburagi Farmers Protest “Anti-Farmer” Sugar Policies
Kalaburagi, India – November 17, 2025 – Sugarcane farmers in Kalaburagi took to the streets on Monday, blocking the main road outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office to protest policies they say are crippling their livelihoods. The Joint Organization of the Sugarcane Growers Associations organized the “rasta roko,” accusing sugar factories, as well as the State and Central governments, of prioritizing profits over the well-being of farmers.
The farmers are demanding the Central government raise the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane to ₹5,500 per tonne, based on a 9.50% sugar recovery rate. Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, district convener of the Karnataka Sugarcane Farmers Federation, criticized the State government for setting a lower price of ₹3,165 per tonne (with a 10.15% recovery rate) for Kalaburagi district, while other districts are allowed ₹3,300 per tonne. “This disparity is unjust and unacceptable,” Mamshetty stated.
Protesters allege that sugar factories routinely manipulate sugar recovery levels, issue biased lab results, delay harvesting, and withhold payments, effectively exploiting farmers. Jagadish Patil Rajapur, district president of the Sugarcane Growers Association, emphasized the farmers’ plight, noting that excessive rainfall has damaged most crops, leaving sugarcane as their only remaining source of income.
Dharamraj Sahu, Aland taluk president of the Sugarcane Growers Association, called for a fairer distribution of revenue, demanding that sugar factories share 50% of profits from sugarcane by-products like ethanol and molasses with the farmers. The farmers also demand that all sugar factories across the state, clear payments within 14 days of recieving sugarcane, without further delay.
The protest highlights the ongoing tensions between sugarcane farmers and sugar factories in the region, as well as the farmers’ frustration with government policies they believe favor industry over agriculture.
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