Bengaluru, Oct. 14 -- Sugarcane farmers across Karnataka intensified their agitation demanding better prices for their produce, blocking major highways and holding overnight protests in several districts. The demonstrations against the Union and state governments disrupted traffic, stranded vehicles for kilometres and caused inconvenience to passengers and transport operators.

The agitation spread across Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Haveri and Dharwad, as well as Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Thousands of farmers participated, insisting that their long-pending demands be addressed without further delay.

The protesters have demanded a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane, an increase in the Fair an...