Post Kawardha Tractor Stir: State Approves ₹51.09 Cr Cane Bonus, but Farmers Stand by Remaining Demands Ahead of Oct 27 Rally

Following the massive 'Balram Kisan Nyay Yatra' tractor demonstration that brought Kawardha's arterial highways to a standstill on October 8, the Government of Chhattisgarh has approved ₹51.09 Crore in incentive bonuses for 31,022 sugarcane growers by elevating the benchmark calculation price from ₹355 to ₹425 per quintal.

However, despite Kabirdham district securing the lion's share of ₹36.23 Crore (over 70.9% of the state payout) across Bhoramdeo Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana (Ramhepur) and Sardar Patel Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana (Pandariya), farming unions and grassroots agrarian bodies have made it clear: farmers are far from satisfied, and the agitation is far from over.

The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (District Kabirdham) has officially declared that the withdrawal of tractors from Kawardha's entry points was strictly a temporary suspension ('स्थगित'), warning that unless the remaining 5 major charter demands are resolved before October 26, thousands of farmers will march to the state capital to stage a demonstration in the state capital Raipur on October 27, 2026.

Agitation Status: Conditionally Suspended in Kawardha; Standby for Capital March

Conceded Demand: Sugarcane Bonus at ₹425/quintal benchmark (Net ₹95.95/qtl payout)

Total Bonus Sanctioned: ₹51.09 Crore statewide (₹36.23 Crore to 23,010 Kabirdham farmers)

Unresolved Demands: 5 Major Issues (Paddy MSP, Krishak Unnati Yojana, Arrears, Mill Expansion, Power)

Next Escalation Date: Sunday, October 27, 2026 (27 अक्टूबर को रायपुर में प्रदर्शन)

Organiser: Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, District Kabirdham

Leadership Warning: District President Doman Chandravanshi & Secretary Jeevan Yadav

Official Monitoring: Directorate of Public Relations (DPRCG) & State Agriculture Desk

Factory-Wise Sugarcane Bonus Breakdown (कारखाना-वार बोनस विवरण)

While the bonus clearance brings immediate relief for cane cutting, Kawardha's dominant agrarian footprint accounts for nearly three-fourths of the approved package:

Why Farmers Are Still Dissatisfied: 5 Crucial Unmet Demands (क्यों संतुष्ट नहीं हैं किसान?)

Farmers in Kawardha emphasized that the ₹95.95 per quintal sugarcane bonus was merely one component of their 6-point charter. The state administration failed to offer concrete assurances on the following critical issues:

1. Exclusion from Krishak Unnati Yojana (₹15,000/acre):* Cane growers demand that sugarcane and cash crops receive the annual ₹15,000 per acre assistance currently restricted to paddy growers. Sugarcane cultivation requires heavy input costs over a full 12-month lifecycle.
2. Central MSP Hike Adjustment on Paddy:* Farmers demand that the central government's recent Minimum Support Price (MSP) increment be added directly over and above the state's promised ₹3,100 per quintal paddy rate.
3. Pending 4th Installment Arrears (₹1,700 Crore):* Rapid clearance of the fourth installment of pending paddy procurement funds from the previous procurement cycle.
4. Sugar Mill Capacity Expansion (क्रशिंग क्षमता विस्तार): Persistent delays in expanding Bhoramdeo Sugar Mill to 7,500 TCD and Pandariya Sugar Mill to 5,500 TCD*. Without expanded capacity, thousands of local cane growers are forced to sell late-harvest cane at distress prices to private middlemen.
5. Smart Meter Rollout & Agricultural Power Tariffs:* Farmers demand an immediate freeze on the aggressive installation of digital smart meters and protections against agricultural pump electricity tariff revisions.

The October 27 Ultimatum: Farmers Plan Capital Demonstration (27 अक्टूबर: रायपुर में प्रदर्शन की तैयारी)

Addressing farmer gatherings after the conditional pause of the Kawardha tractor blockade, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh district leaders reaffirmed that the battle has only shifted venues:

"सरकार यह गलतफहमी न पाले कि ₹425 का भाव देकर आंदोलन खत्म हो गया। यह आंदोलन समाप्त नहीं, सिर्फ स्थगित हुआ है। हमारी मुख्य मांगें—धान का बढ़ा हुआ समर्थन मूल्य, 15,000 रुपये प्रति एकड़ कृषक उन्नति योजना और मिलों का विस्तार—अब भी अधूरी हैं। यदि 26 अक्टूबर तक शासन ने इन पर ठोस आदेश जारी नहीं किए, तो 27 अक्टूबर को कबीरधाम सहित पूरे प्रदेश के किसान रायपुर पहुंचकर मुख्यमंत्री निवास के समक्ष प्रदर्शन करेंगे।"

— भारतीय किसान संघ, जिला कबीरधाम

The Calculation Behind the ₹95.95 Bonus Payout

For cane growers awaiting DBT deposits, the Department of Cooperation's calculation mechanism operates as follows:

• Central FRP Baseline: The central statutory Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) was pegged at ₹329.05 per quintal.
• State Enhanced Valuation: The State Cabinet raised the purchase benchmark rate from ₹355 to ₹425.00 per quintal.
• Net Cash Subsidy:

$$\text{State Bonus} = ₹425.00 - ₹329.05 = \mathbf{₹95.95 \text{ per quintal}}$$

• Direct Bank Transfer: Funds are remitted through Aadhaar-enabled DBT directly into farmers' District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) accounts ahead of the festive Diwali season.

While the ₹36.23 Crore inflow provides essential working capital for pre-Rabi crop sowing in Kawardha and Pandariya, the political and agrarian temperature in the district remains high as farm unions mobilize contingents for the impending capital demonstration on October 27.

Official Verification & Desks

• Executive Authority: Directorate of Public Relations, Government of Chhattisgarh (DPRCG).
• Administrative Oversight: Department of Cooperation & Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Sugar Federation.
• Farmer Agitation Desk: Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (District Kabirdham Core Committee).
• Ground Records: Administrative Boards of Bhoramdeo Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana Maryadit (Ramhepur) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana Maryadit (Bisatpur, Pandariya).
• Reporting & Synthesis: Mor Kawardha Agriculture & Rural Economy Desk.