Factories will pay more if sugar MSP is revised, says Jarkiholi
Minister Satish Jarkiholi stated that the Union government must revise the Minimum Selling Price to resolve sugarcane growers' problems.
Minister and sugar factory owner Satish Jarkiholi said on Sunday in Belagavi that revising the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for sugar is the only viable solution to problems faced by farmers. According to The Hindu, Jarkiholi claimed the State government has little role in resolving these issues as sugarcane is a regulated crop.
Jarkiholi stated that sugar factories told Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during meetings at Suvarna Soudha that they would make increased payments to farmers if the MSP is revised. He said he is confident factories will keep their word and that an increase in MSP would provide financial relief to them.
The Minister noted that confusion persists among farmers and factory owners regarding price fixation, which could end if the Union government announces a new MSP. He added that the Union government fixes both the MSP and the Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane.
Addressing weighing concerns, Jarkiholi said the State government has not received specific complaints about mills cheating farmers. He suggested a system where farmers weigh their own produce and proposed installing weighbridges every 10 km on the way to factories.
Jarkiholi also defended the Karnataka Milk Federation's milk price hike, which became effective on November 1. He said the average increase of ₹8 per litre includes ₹7 going directly to milk producers to help with rising costs of fodder, feed and labour.