Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, 17 October met sugarcane farmers undertaking a padayatra in Kittur, Belagavi district, and announced he would convene a multi-stakeholder meeting — involving sugar mill owners, farmer leaders, and Central government officials — after the Dasara holidays to work out a lasting resolution to the ongoing agitation over minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane.

What Shivakumar Promised the Farmers

Appealing to the protesting growers to call off their agitation, Shivakumar said the state government alone could not resolve the issue, as the Centre, banks, and sugar factory owners all had a critical role to play. He urged all stakeholders to come together for structured dialogue.

'I will convene a meeting with sugar factory owners, farmer leaders and Central government officials next week, after Dasara. I fold my hands and appeal to the farmers to withdraw their protest,' he said at the site of the ongoing march in Kittur.

The Chief Minister also struck a notably personal tone, saying he was prepared to stay alongside the protesters if they called on him. 'I am ready to come wherever the farmers call me. I am thinking about your welfare and am prepared to sleep on the streets alongside you. I will sleep on the mat you provide and accept the roti you offer,' he said.

Key Developments in the Sugarcane Dispute

The agitation centres on farmers' demand for a higher price for sugarcane, a problem Shivakumar acknowledged has persisted for 10 to 12 years. He confirmed that Karnataka's Cooperation, Agriculture, and Sugar ministers had already been dispatched to New Delhi for discussions with Central authorities, and that he had personally spoken to farmer leader Choonappa Poojari to understand the growers' concerns.

Notably, Shivakumar also disclosed that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents Karnataka, was engaged in parallel discussions with other states, signalling that the issue extends beyond Karnataka's borders. The Central government has reportedly constituted a committee to examine the sugarcane pricing question in consultation with multiple states.

The Sugar Mills' Side of the Equation

The Chief Minister said the proposed meeting would also need to account for the financial constraints facing sugar factories. Mill owners have reportedly raised concerns over financial losses, electricity procurement costs, production expenses, and regulatory asymmetries with other states. Some factories are reportedly struggling to sustain operations.

Shivakumar said the state government would have to balance the interests of both farmers and the industry. 'If the factories survive, farmers will also benefit. We must find a solution keeping the interests of both farmers and factory owners in mind,' he said. He added that efforts to stabilise sugar factories had also been undertaken during the previous administration led by Siddaramaiah, and the present government would continue those efforts.

What the Proposed Meeting Will Cover

According to Shivakumar, the stakeholder meeting — scheduled for after Dasara — will specifically discuss sugarcane pricing, the feasibility of an MSP increase, and other relief measures for growers. The state government also intends to formally approach the Union government for additional support.

Speaking to the media at Belagavi airport later on Saturday, Shivakumar reiterated that thousands of farmers were agitating and that the government was acutely aware of their difficulties. He confirmed that earlier plans to convene a meeting with mill owners had fallen through due to logistical reasons, and that a fresh attempt would be made to bring all parties to the table.

The outcome of next week's multi-stakeholder meeting will be closely watched by sugarcane growers across Karnataka and neighbouring states where similar pricing tensions have surfaced.