A file photo of Congress leader and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi. | Photo Credit: BADIGER PK Sugar factories cannot begin crushing operations without farmers’ consent, Karnataka minister and sugar factory owner Satish Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Monday (November 2, 2026).Sugar factories will commence operations only if farmers consent to it. In the current situation, factory owners are unwilling to take any risks, whether the risks pertain to uncertain prices or change in policies.“Centre is playing politics over sugarcane and sugar related issues,” the minister said.“Sugar and sugarcane are highly regulated commodities and all the sugar-related laws are Central laws.
It is the Central government that fixes or revises Minimum Selling Price for sugar and Fair and Remunerative price for sugarcane. The Union government controls ethanol trade and pricing.
It has recently decided not to allow oil companies from buying ethanol produced from sugarcane. Factory owners are unwilling to take the risks that may arise out of the Centre’s decisions on such issues.
There is a need for a cordial environment that creates a consensus between farmers and factory owners to resolve the issues faced by sugarcane growers,’’ he said.He told reporters that the confusion surrounding price fixation between sugarcane growers and sugar factories was owing to lack of understanding of some basic facts by some leaders and the general public. “Such issues can be resolved only through dialogue. Any decision must take into account both the farmers’ demands and the financial situation of the factories,” he said.“After several years, farmers and sugar mills are placing a single common demand, of revising MSP for sugar.
Sugar factories believe that an increase in the MSP would help improve the financial condition of sugar mills,” he added.“We are all asking that the Central government act responsibly in this matter. Everyone knows that the State has no role in this matter,” he said.
Published - November 02, 2026 06:25 pm IST