Hubballi (Karnataka), Sept. 29 -- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday appealed to Karnataka's sugarcane growers to come to Delhi for discussions on their demand for a higher Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), saying there was no need to stage protests on the streets and assuring them that the Centre was ready to hear their grievances.
The appeal came on the day a protest has been planned by the Karnataka State Raitha Sena in Hubballi, where farmers will march towards Joshi's residence and office to demand a remunerative price for sugarcane and implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. "I request you to come for discussions with us at any time in Delhi. I once again appeal to you that there is no need for anyone to stage a protest on the streets. If you come, we will discuss the matter with you. I request you to please come," Joshi said in a video message. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said farmer leaders had met him in February this year and sought an increase in the FRP, following which the Centre raised it by Rs 365 in May. "First of all, in February 2026, some farmer leaders met me unexpectedly when I was leaving for an event and submitted a request seeking an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane," he said.
Joshi said he had told the delegation at the time that the Narendra Modi government had been increasing the FRP every year and would continue to do so. He said some farmers now appeared to be under the impression that their request had not been considered because there had been no further discussion with them after the May increase. "I want to humbly tell everyone that, as we do every year, we have done it this year as well. We had received demands from our protesters and from various other quarters, and we acted on them," he said. Joshi also explained that the Centre alone does not determine the FRP and that the process involves consideration of inputs from a price-fixing committee and the state government.
"At the state level, there is a Cane Commissioner. We obtain detailed information from the state government and take its recommendations into consideration while determining the FRP. This applies across the entire country," he said. The minister said the government was open to further discussions with farmers and offered to facilitate direct interaction between farmer leaders and officials in Delhi. "If any farmer leaders come to Delhi, they are welcome. We will receive them with great respect, bring them together with the officials and hear all their concerns. If anything more can be done, the Modi government is always open to it," he said.
Joshi also said the Centre would take farmers' concerns seriously, pointing out that governments depended on the support of farmers and their cooperation. "All of us are firmly conscious that we are in this position because of the cooperation and support of farmer brothers and farmers like you," he said. The minister further indicated that the government would consider the demand for an appropriate price for sugarcane during the current cycle. "Under our government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have increased the FRP every year and would do so this year as well," he said, recalling the Rs 365 increase announced in May. The appeal comes against the backdrop of the Karnataka State Raitha Sena's call for a major protest in Hubballi on Wednesday.
The protest march is scheduled to begin from Chennamma Circle and proceed towards Joshi's residence and his office on the Chitaguppi Hospital premises. Farmers have announced demands including a remunerative support price for sugarcane and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. Police have made security arrangements in the city ahead of the protest, with barricades put up near Joshi's residence and office. Additional personnel have been deployed anticipating the participation of farmers and leaders of organisations from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Joshi reiterated his invitation to the sugarcane growers to engage with the Centre directly rather than protest on the streets.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.