Karnataka sugar crisis: Centre seeks time from farmers after midnight talks

Senior political leaders held an unscheduled late-night meeting with sugarcane farmers in Hubballi on Wednesday as tensions over the sugar sector's challenges continued to mount in Karnataka. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar attended the closed-door discussions to hear farmer concerns and discuss potential remedies to the crisis affecting the state's sugar industry.

The meeting reflected mounting pressure on both the Centre and state government to address farmer grievances linked to sugarcane procurement, pricing, and mill operations. Farmers have been vocal about their economic distress, citing delays in payments and falling market rates that have squeezed their incomes.

Following the discussions, farmer representatives agreed to defer any immediate action and instead agreed to reconvene for further consultations on October 19. The postponement indicates ongoing negotiations between the government and farmer groups, though details of any proposals discussed remain undisclosed.

Karnataka's sugar sector has faced recurring challenges in recent years, with farmers frequently demanding government intervention to stabilize prices and ensure timely payments from mills. The late-night engagement by senior leaders underscores the political sensitivity of the issue ahead of upcoming electoral contests in the region.