Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Thursday that it is the central government's responsibility to determine the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane. Farmers in northern Karnataka are currently protesting, demanding a price of ₹3,500 per ton. He urged the farmers not to escalate their protests and invited them for discussions in Bengaluru on Friday. During a press briefing, Siddaramaiah mentioned that he has convened a meeting with sugar mill owners and farmer representatives from Haveri, Belagavi, Vijayapura, and Bagalkot to discuss the ongoing agitation.

He emphasized that the FRP is set by the central government. This year, the FRP recovery, including harvesting and transportation, has been fixed at ₹10.25 per ton. The Chief Minister requested farmers to participate in the meeting and avoid blocking highways. He expressed, 'I urge the farmers not to strike and cause inconvenience to the public.' Furthermore, he indicated that he would seek an appointment with the Prime Minister soon. Siddaramaiah also criticized the central government regarding sugar regulation and ethanol allocation, stating that the center not only sets sugarcane prices but also regulates sugar, halted exports, and allocated only 47 crore liters of ethanol to Karnataka, despite the state producing 270 crore liters.

Additionally, he accused the opposition of exploiting farmers' innocence, while the state has taken steps such as issuing tenders for digital weighing machines and forming committees to monitor harvesting and yield.