Maharashtra : Sugar cane farmers intensify agitation over unresolved pricing dispute
Farmers in Kolhapur have intensified protests, halting sugarcane harvesting and transport after talks with mills failed over price disputes. Raju Shetti warned of disrupting CM Devendra Fadnavis’s visit. Farmers accuse mills of hiding profits and inflating harvesting costs. Several mills paused operations amid tensions, while another meeting is planned.
Kolhapur: A day after a crucial meeting between sugar cane farmer representatives and sugar mill operators, convened by district collector Amol Yedge, ended inconclusively, farmers’ organisations have significantly intensified their agitation. Their actions now aim to halt the harvesting and transportation of sugar cane to mills across the district. All eyes are now on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s visit to Kolhapur city on Wednesday. Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti has publicly threatened to disrupt the chief minister’s programme, aiming to force a direct response to the ongoing sugarcane price issue. Meanwhile, collector Yedge has assured farmers that a follow-up meeting with Kolhapur guardian minister Prakash Abitkar will be held on Thursday. On Tuesday, widespread disruptions occurred as harvesting operations were stopped at several locations, and local offices of sugar mills were forcefully shut down. Although the sugar cane crushing season officially commenced on Nov 1, many mills are yet to begin operations, reportedly due to fears of violence from the escalating protests. Local workers of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and other outfits reported being contacted by local police and advised against disrupting the chief minister’s visit and other VIP programmes in Kolhapur.
Shetti said, “As per law, sugar mills are obligated to share their profits with farmers, over and above the fair and remunerative price (FRP). However, many mills have concealed their revenue data for 2024-25. They owe Rs200 per ton to sugar cane farmers for last season and must also declare the price for the new season. Many have cleverly announced they will pay FRP, but the amount declared is after deducting exaggerated harvesting and transportation costs.” Shetti maintained that the actual cost for harvesting and transportation ranges between Rs 700-800 per ton, yet mills inflate this figure to Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per ton. Illustrating the intensity of the protest, farmers at Asurle Porle in Panhala tehsil shut down the local office of a private sugar mill. Similarly, supporters of Shetti staged a ‘rasta roko’ (road blockade) at Patane Phata in Chandgad tehsil, demanding a fair price for their sugar cane.
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Source : The Times Of India
