Belagavi, Nov. 5 -- Sugarcane farmers in Belagavi have received a partial response to their month-long agitation, with the government announcing a price of Rs. 3,600 per tonne. The announcement was made by district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi after talks with sugar factory owners, but the farmers have insisted that the minister should come to their protest venue and make the declaration officially.

The farmers had been demanding Rs. 5,500 per tonne and resorted to several forms of protest, including national highway blockades, a foot march, a state-wide bandh and a jail bharo campaign.

As the agitation gathered momentum, Jarkiholi chaired a meeting with representatives of sugar factories at the Deputy Commissioner's office on We...