Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Thursday, 15 October 2026, thanked the Centre for constituting a high-level committee to examine the demands of sugarcane farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The committee, headed by former NITI Aayog member Professor Ramesh Chand, was formed within two days of a high-level meeting held in New Delhi earlier this week — a turnaround that the BJP described as evidence of the government's responsiveness to agrarian concerns.

What the Committee Will Do

The joint committee chaired by Professor Ramesh Chand is mandated to meet sugarcane farmers, particularly in Karnataka and Maharashtra, to assess ground realities. It will hold consultations, conduct research, and undertake a comprehensive review of the issues affecting the sugar sector before submitting a detailed report with specific recommendations to the Union government at the earliest.

Key areas under examination include the cost of sugarcane production, a potential increase in the minimum selling price (MSP), and transparency in weighing systems — concerns that farmer representatives have flagged repeatedly. The panel will also study demands for higher remunerative returns, factoring in cultivation costs and other relevant factors.

What the Government Said

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that the Centre had acted swiftly — within just two days of offering assurances at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on 12 October — demonstrating its commitment to addressing farmers' concerns. He added that the Centre had responded promptly and initiated measures to find comprehensive solutions for both sugarcane growers and the wider sugar industry.

Vijayendra separately expressed gratitude to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Joshi for taking the farmers' demands seriously. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was firmly committed to ensuring farmers receive fair prices and lasting solutions to their problems.

Letter to Karnataka Chief Minister

Notably, Joshi had also written to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, urging the state government to respond promptly to sugarcane farmers' demands. The letter referenced detailed discussions held with farmers and their representatives in New Delhi on 12 October, following which farmers submitted a formal representation highlighting their concerns.

In the letter, Joshi called for immediate action on several fronts: an independent inspection of sugar recovery rates, transparent inspection of weighing machines, a review of the eight per cent deduction for mechanical harvesting, and the announcement of the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane. The Centre's move effectively puts pressure on the Congress-led Karnataka state government to match the Centre's pace on the issue.

Political and Agricultural Context

The sugarcane sector is of critical importance to both Karnataka and Maharashtra, which together account for a significant share of India's sugar output. Farmer agitation over MSP, recovery-rate disputes, and opaque weighing practices has been simmering for months. This is not the first time the Centre has formed a committee in response to farmer pressure, but the speed of formation — 48 hours after the New Delhi meeting — is being highlighted by BJP leaders as a political signal ahead of upcoming state-level elections.

The BJP's public appreciation of the Centre's move also draws a pointed contrast with the state government's record on SAP announcements, which farmers say have been delayed. All eyes are now on whether Chief Minister Shivakumar responds to Joshi's letter before the committee begins its field consultations.