Heavy rain may cut sugar recovery, says Maharashtra government
Maharashtra will begin its sugarcane crushing season on November 1, despite flood damage and fears of lower sugar recovery reducing output. Millers, already struggling to pay last season’s FRP, opposed new levies of Rs 15 per tonne for relief funds, calling them an added burden on flood-hit farmers and mills.
The Maharashtra government’s ministerial committee has approved the start of the sugarcane crushing season from November 1. However, it cautioned that excessive rain this year may reduce the percentage of sugar recovery. The decline in the recovery will likely lower sugar production across the State, causing significant economic losses for both farmers and millers.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, at a recent ministerial committee meeting in Mumbai, announced the commencement of the 2025-26 crushing season. The committee reviewed the flood-related damage to sugarcane cultivation across several regions.
Millers said a drop in the recovery rate will affect sugar output and urged the State to extend support to ensure smooth operations. Many said they have yet to pay last season’s fair and remunerative price (FRP) to farmers due to financial strain, and the coming season will worsen their burden.
Levy for CM fund
Despite these concerns, the government decided to levy Rs 10 per tonne on sugar mills for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Rs 5 per tonne for assistance to flood-affected farmers. Millers opposed the move, arguing that sugarcane farmers themselves have been hit hard, with large tracts of crops inundated. They warned that the additional levy would be a double blow to cane growers.
The crushing season will begin after Deepavali, as sugarcane cutters were unwilling to start work before the festival.
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Source : The Hindu Business line
