Sugarcane Stir Intensifies in Western Maharashtra

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will take a delegation of sugarcane farmers and experts to the Centre to press for an increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar and the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane, as protests against the commencement of the crushing season intensified in western Maharashtra.

The decision was taken at a meeting between State Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil and farmer leaders, including BJP leader Sada Khot, amid growing demands for higher prices and compensation for losses caused by declining sugarcane yields.

Maharashtra is the country’s second-largest sugar-producing state.

Farmers are demanding that the MSP of sugar be raised from the current Rs 31 per kg to Rs 50 per kg.

They have also sought an increase in the ethanol procurement price from Rs 58 to Rs 70 per litre and a revision in the FRP to compensate for losses resulting from reduced cane tonnage and lower sugar recovery.

On Thursday, farmers staged protests outside sugar factories in Satara and Sangli districts, opposing the commencement of crushing operations from October 15.

Led by former Lok Sabha member and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetti, the protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not addressed.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Shetti said the agitation had forced four sugar mills in Sangli district to suspend operations.

He added that he would visit Satara and Pune on Friday to protest against the commencement of crushing unless the farmers’ demands were met.

The farmer leader said the Centre had not revised the sugar MSP since 2018-19, leaving sugarcane growers struggling with financial losses due to lower yields and declining sugar recovery rates.

He said raising the sugar MSP to Rs 50 per kg and the ethanol procurement price to Rs 70 per litre was necessary to sustain the sugar industry and ensure fair returns for farmers.

Mr Shetti said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September, urging the Centre to address these demands.

However, the central government had not paid heed to the demands, compelling farmers to launch protests against mill operations, he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance have stepped in to address the farmers’ concerns and find a resolution to the agitation.

On Wednesday, Mr Patil held a meeting with sugarcane growers to discuss the proposed increase in sugar prices, the FRP and other pending issues.

Mr Khot emphasised the need to pursue the farmers’ demands with the Centre and proposed taking a delegation of farmer representatives to New Delhi under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Khot also said he had learnt that the Centre had decided to constitute a committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to examine the farmers’ concerns.

“I want the Ramesh Chand committee to submit its report before the end of the current crushing season,” he said.

Mr Patil assured the farmers that a meeting would soon be held with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar to discuss their demands.

He reiterated that a delegation of representatives from farmers’ organisations would be taken to the Centre to seek favourable decisions on the sugar MSP and sugarcane FRP.