Efforts on to ensure 100% cane payments to farmers: Kolhapur Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte
Maharashtra sugar mills face mounting pressure as 139 of 205 mills haven’t cleared full FRP dues. Outstanding payments, though reduced to ~₹1,012 crore, remain a concern. Authorities are pushing mills to clear 100% payments जल्द, amid financial stress from rising costs and higher FRP obligations.
Kolhapur: State Sugar Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Kolte said the department is working to ensure that farmers receive 100% of their sugarcane payments at the earliest.
Out of 205 sugar mills that participated in the crushing season, 139 have not cleared the full Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), according to official data.
To address the issue, a hearing was held on April 13 at the sugar commissioner’s office for 29 mills that have paid less than 80% of FRP. Representatives from 24 mills attended the proceedings.
During the hearing, several mill representatives cited financial difficulties and requested an extension until April 30 to clear the dues. The next hearing has been scheduled for May 7.
Speaking to ChiniMandi, Kolte said, “Our department is making efforts to ensure that farmers receive 100% FRP. The hearings are being conducted for this purpose.”
Officials said that rising FRP over the years, along with stable minimum support prices and increasing production costs, has put pressure on mill finances, leading to delays in payments.
As of April 2, 2026, outstanding dues from mills stood at around Rs 2,991 crore. However, continuous follow-up by the authorities has led to some improvement, with pending dues declining to about Rs 1,012.44 crore as of last week.
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