Rains submerge sugarcane in Maharashtra, but won’t affect sugar production, say millers
Heavy rains in Maharashtra have submerged sugarcane fields, damaging an estimated 100 lakh tonnes. Despite losses, 1,200 lakh tonnes are still expected for crushing, though yield per hectare may drop from 82 to 74 tonnes. Delays could push up Diwali sugar prices. Tensions rise as the state imposes relief levies, while millers and farmer groups clash over payments and tonnage reporting.
Heavy rains have left sugarcane fields in Solapur, Nashik, Ahilyanagar and Marathwada under water for weeks, with riverside crops in western Maharashtra’s sugar belt also inundated. Early estimates suggest around 100 lakh tonnes of sugarcane may have been damaged. However, industry experts remain optimistic.
They project that about 1,200 lakh tonnes of cane will still be available for crushing, even after accounting for losses — significantly higher than last year’s 850 lakh tonnes. According to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Mills Association, the estimated sugar yield has been revised from 82 tonnes per hectare to 74 tonnes per hectare.
Harshvardhan Patil, president of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), said that while rains have affected cultivation, “overall sugar production will not be hit.” He urged the Union government to consider an additional export quota and added that higher ethanol prices would directly benefit farmers.
Despite the crop damage in Maharashtra and Karnataka, millers believe sugar output will remain steady. Farmers, however, say excessive rain has stunted cane growth. The downpour has delayed the crushing season, and fresh sugar stocks are expected to reach the market only by late November. Experts predict that this delay will push up retail sugar prices during the Diwali season — with prices in some states already crossing ₹4,000 per tonne.
Conflict with the State
A fresh dispute has erupted between sugar mills and the Maharashtra government after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of strict action against mills “cheating farmers in tonnage calculation.” The warning followed protests by millers against the state’s decision to impose a relief levy to support flood-affected farmers.
Under the government’s plan, mills are required to contribute ₹10 per tonne of sugarcane to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and another ₹5 per tonne towards aid for farmers affected by floods. The state said the decision followed a high-level committee review, which noted that sugar mills in Maharashtra have achieved a turnover of ₹30,000 crore, while the government has extended support worth ₹10,000 crore.
“Therefore, we decided to keep ₹5 per tonne aside for the affected farmers. Some are misrepresenting it as money taken from farmers. Mills are not private entities — they belong to farmers,” said Fadnavis.
Millers, however, argue that many sugar factories are already in poor financial health and cannot afford additional levies.
Farmer leader Raju Shetti has demanded strict action against sugar mills that have failed to pay the full Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to farmers for cane crushed in the previous season.
He also urged the government to act against mills “deceiving farmers” through false tonnage calculations. “We have submitted a list of such mills along with proof. The Chief Minister must take immediate action,” Shetti said.
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Source : The Hindu Business line
