The Centre is ready to hold discussions with Karnataka sugarcane farmers on cane pricing and other industry-related issues, former Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi said on Friday. According to Kadadi, representatives of farmers’ associations have been invited to Delhi on October 12 to discuss their concerns with officials from the ministries concerned. He said the meeting could provide an opportunity to address pending issues through dialogue rather than protests.
Kadadi said farmer representatives would be able to raise issues related to sugarcane prices, pending cane payments and other concerns directly with central government officials. He emphasised the need to maintain a balance between the interests of sugarcane growers, sugar mills and consumers while determining cane and sugar prices. 
Karnataka has around 7.3 lakh hectares under sugarcane cultivation and 81 sugar factories, Kadadi said. He added that sugarcane is an important source of livelihood for farmers and supports significant employment across the sugar industry. According to him, delayed payment of sugarcane dues, which had been a major concern in the past, has improved considerably due to measures taken by the Centre to support both farmers and sugar mills.
Kadadi also highlighted the growing role of ethanol production and procurement in improving the financial position of sugar mills. He said ethanol procurement had increased from around 38 crore litres to 12 billion litres, helping mills make timely payments to sugarcane growers. He claimed that around 97% of farmers’ cane dues had been cleared this year.
On sugarcane pricing, Kadadi said state governments have the authority to announce prices above the Centre's Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and suggested that Karnataka should announce a State Advisory Price (SAP). He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand have already announced SAPs for sugarcane growers.
Kadadi also commented on farmers’ demand for separate sugar prices of ₹100 per kg for commercial users and ₹60 per kg for consumers, saying that such differential pricing could create a risk of black marketing. He said he was not opposed to farmers raising their demands and would take up their concerns with the central government.
He urged representatives of Karnataka sugarcane farmers to attend the October 12 meeting in Delhi and use the platform to seek solutions to pending cane pricing and payment issues. MLA Abhay Patil and former MLAs Anil Benake and Sanjay Patil were also present.
