More than 2,000 farmers from across Karnataka intensified their agitation in Hubballi on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, demanding a minimum price of ₹5,500 per tonne for sugarcane, a near-doubling of the minimum selling price of sugar, and full implementation of the Dr M.S. Swaminathan Commission report. The protest, organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, drew participants from Dharwad, Belagavi, and several other districts, bringing parts of the city to a standstill.

How the Protest Unfolded

Farmers first assembled at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle before marching towards the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. The original plan to lay siege to Joshi's Hubballi office was reportedly shelved after police denied permission, with demonstrators redirecting to Nehru Maidan instead.

Authorities deployed more than 250 police personnel around Nehru Maidan and erected barricades near Joshi's office and residence. Tension briefly escalated when some farmers attempted to remove the barricades. Traffic was disrupted on several major roads, with vehicles stranded in queues stretching for kilometres as protesters staged sit-ins.

Key Demands of the Farmers

Farmer leader Chunnappa Poojari stated that cultivation costs had risen nearly threefold between 2019 and 2026, making the current price structure untenable. He demanded that sugarcane prices be determined scientifically based on estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), and called for an additional payment of ₹300 per tonne to farmers supplying sugarcane during the 2025–26 season.

The protesters also sought an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar from ₹31 per kg to ₹60 per kg, citing sharply rising input costs. Additional demands included full loan waivers for farmers, a scientifically determined Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, declaration of minimum support prices for all crops, implementation of the Mahadayi irrigation project, and government purchase of the state's entire ethanol production. Farmers also criticised the state government for providing only ₹2,500 in crop-loss compensation, calling the amount inadequate.

Farmers Target Union Minister Joshi

Farmer leader Shashikant Guruji of Inchageri Math directly accused Union Minister Joshi of failing to address farmers' grievances and urged him to meet protesters in person rather than communicate through a video message. The call for a face-to-face response underscored the deepening frustration with what demonstrators described as a lack of political accountability.

This comes amid a broader national debate over agricultural pricing, with sugarcane farmers across several states pressing for higher FRP and state advisory prices. Notably, the demand to implement the Swaminathan Commission report — which has been a rallying point for farmer movements since the mid-2000s — signals that structural grievances remain unaddressed nearly two decades after the report's submission.

What Happens Next

Protest leaders warned the agitation would continue until the government formally responded to their demands. They indicated that the next phase of the protest would be decided after 5 pm on Tuesday, with more farmers expected to join. The escalation near a sitting Union Minister's residence and the large turnout raise the likelihood of further political pressure on both the Centre and the Karnataka state government in the days ahead.