Karnataka CM Seeks Drought Relief; Sugarcane Farmers’ Support In Letter To PM Modi

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Kannada Rajyotsava greetings. He sought drought relief, support for sugarcane farmers and faster clearance of pending irrigation projects.

In a six-page letter dated November 4, Shivakumar responded to PM Modi’s October 31 message. He welcomed the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to inaugurate Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line.

Continuing our efforts to secure fair and remunerative prices for Karnataka’s sugarcane farmers, I have written to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, seeking his personal intervention and urgent decisions on the issues affecting farmers and the State’s sugar industry.

Key demands:

1. Revise the Sugar MSP: Increase the Minimum Selling Price of sugar, unchanged at ₹31 per kg since February 2019, despite the FRP rising from ₹2,750 to ₹3,650 per tonne. With sugar selling at approximately ₹45 per kg, a revision can protect farmers’ payments without increasing consumer prices.

2. Review the Ethanol Directive: Reconsider the October 22, 2026 directive restricting ethanol production from sugarcane juice, syrup and B-heavy molasses for ESY 2026-27, after the February 2027 crop estimate, beginning with B-heavy molasses. Also revise cane-based ethanol prices, unchanged since 2022-23 for juice and B-heavy molasses. Karnataka’s cane-based distilleries earned ₹5,803.7 crore from ethanol in 2025-26, helping mills pay farmers within 14 days.

3. Restore the FRP Base Recovery: Bring the base recovery rate back to 9.5% to protect farmers in low-recovery regions from being disadvantaged due to soil and climatic conditions.

4. Separate Sugar MSPs: Introduce separate Minimum Selling Prices for domestic and commercial sugar to protect household consumers while ensuring fair prices for bulk buyers.

5. Revise the Revenue-Sharing Formula: Include ethanol and co-generation revenues in the revenue-sharing formula and establish a Price Stabilisation Fund, as recommended by the NITI Aayog Task Force and the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

I have also highlighted our government’s efforts to safeguard farmers’ interests. All 81 operating sugar mills use digital weighbridges, mill laboratories are inspected twice a month, average sugar recovery reached 11.09% in 2025-26, and 99.85% of the cane dues for 2025-26 have been paid.

With the crushing season already facing delays and farmers awaiting clarity on these critical decisions, timely intervention is essential. I urge the Union Government to act on the immediate concerns while also working towards lasting reforms that ensure a fair and sustainable future for Karnataka’s sugarcane farmers and sugar industry.

@PMOIndia

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 30, 2026

Shivakumar acknowledged the Centre’s investments in highways, the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and railway infrastructure. However, he urged PM Modi to expedite approvals for Mekedatu, Kalasa-Banduri, Upper Bhadra, Upper Krishna and Yettinahole irrigation projects.

He sought an appointment for an all-party delegation to discuss drought relief and farmers’ demands. These include revising sugar MSP, restoring the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) base recovery to 9.5 per cent and increasing cane-based ethanol prices. He said delays had affected the sugarcane crushing season.

The Chief Minister urged the Centre to release pending drought assistance. He said 226 of Karnataka’s 240 taluks had been declared drought-affected. The state received 551 mm of rainfall against the normal 852 mm during the 2026 southwest monsoon, recording a 35 per cent deficit. Nearly 11.97 lakh hectares remained unsown.

Shivakumar sought a special financial package for Bengaluru and support for drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He said Karnataka had provided 90.61 lakh rural household tap connections.

He also proposed an AI university in Bengaluru and reiterated the state’s demand for an AIIMS in Raichur.

Concluding his letter, Shivakumar sought Karnataka’s rightful share and fair treatment. He stressed that Centre-state cooperation was vital for development.

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