World · India Bureau
Sugar farmers split over pricing demands as leadership clash intensifies
A disagreement has erupted within farmer groups over divergent approaches to securing better sugarcane prices from authorities. The dispute centers on conflicting statements about negotiation strategies and promised minimum rates.
LSN India ·
Tensions have surfaced among sugarcane farmer organisations in Karnataka as rival factions clash over the direction of their price negotiations with state authorities. Followers of farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar have raised objections to statements made by another faction leader, Chunappa Pujeri, regarding assurances given to farmers about upcoming price announcements.
The friction stems from Pujeri's claims that he will secure a government announcement guaranteeing ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane. Chandrashekar's supporters view this as an overreach that could complicate ongoing discussions and undermine the broader unity of farmer demands.
The split highlights growing divisions within farmer groups over negotiating tactics and the credibility of individual leaders' claims regarding their influence with government officials. Competing narratives about what can realistically be achieved through negotiations have created confusion among farmers about the actual status of price discussions.
The disagreement comes during a period of farmer activism across India focused on agricultural pricing and market protections. Sugarcane farmers in Karnataka have been seeking better remuneration for their produce, with pricing disputes remaining a persistent grievance in farming communities.