Sugarcane farmers launch major march demanding fair revenue share

Sugarcane cultivators across India have launched a significant protest march, the 'Hubballi Chalo' padayatra, to reinvigorate demands for a more equitable share in revenues generated from sugar and ethanol industries. The padayatra represents a renewed push by farmers to secure fairer compensation for their produce and greater participation in the profits derived from value-added products.

The march has brought back into focus several long-standing issues affecting the sugarcane farming community. Farmers have consistently raised concerns about inadequate procurement prices, delayed payments, and the gap between what sugar mills and ethanol producers earn compared to what growers receive for their raw material.

The padayatra is expected to draw attention from policymakers and industry stakeholders to the farmers' core grievances. Key among these are demands for better price mechanisms, timely settlement of dues, and a more transparent system for determining the division of revenues across the supply chain.

The movement reflects growing frustration within the farming community over what many view as an imbalanced economic relationship between producers and processors. Organizers of the march are seeking commitments from government and industry bodies to implement structural reforms that would enhance farmer income and ensure sustainable livelihoods in the sugarcane sector.