Around ₹700-800 crore due by sugar factories to Karnataka farmers: Shivanand Patil

Shivanand Patil. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

“The total sugarcane dues by sugar factories to farmers in Karnataka is around ₹700-800 crore,” Minister for Sugar and Textiles Shivanand Patil said in Belagavi on Saturday (April 5, 2025.)

He told reporters that factories had paid around ₹18,000 crore to cane supplying farmers, which was around 95% of the total bill. He said the State Government would ensure that the rest of the dues were paid as soon as possible.

“Sugarcane is an important agricultural product in India, from which sugar and ethanol are produced. However, we need to increase productivity by adopting new technology,” he said.

“He said traditional farming needed to be infused with modern science and therefore, there was a need for trained graduates and post graduates. That is why, we have started M.Sc. courses in sugarcane and alcohol technology have been started at the S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute,” he said.

Later, he inaugurated a seminar in S Nijalingappa Sugar Institute in Belagavi. He said the State Government was formulating plans to promote green energy by focussing on higher production and use of ethanol. This is an eco-friendly fuel that reduces carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere.

“Even the Central Government is aiming to increase the blending of green energy. The production of ethanol in Karnataka is steadily increasing,” he said.

“Like the constant variation in the price of other crops and commodities, the price of sugarcane is also not stable. Even the price of gold is not stable. There can be delay in the payment of dues to farmers. All the stake holders, farmers, factory workers and management should strive to maintain their livelihood by facing all such problems, including the impact of weather conditions on agriculture,’‘ he said.

“The sugar industry and cooperative institutions should work together for the economic self-reliance of farmers and rural prosperity. Such development will help the State’s agriculture-based economy grow. Through the adoption of technology, environmental protection in the sugar industry and increase the income of farmers will be possible. This will also help in the economic development of the country,’‘ he said. The seminar was held in association with the South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association.

Sugarcane Development Commissioner and Sugar Institute Director R. Ravikumar, TruAlt Bioenergy and MRN Group Director Y.B. Ramakrishna, South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association president Chinnappan, Beelagi Sugar Factory President S.R. Patil, National Sugar Institute Director Seema Paroha, South Indian Sugarcane and representatives of various organisations were present.