Sugar mills in Karnataka’s districts near the Maharashtra border are set to begin their crushing operations on Monday, following a decision by the neighboring state to bring forward its sugarcane crushing start date from November 1 to October 20. This early start, by ten days, could potentially affect the sugar mills in Maharashtra. Karnataka’s Sugar Minister, Shivanand Patil, made the announcement on Saturday, cautioning that delayed harvesting in Maharashtra might lead to a drop in sugar output.
In Maharashtra, sugar millers had been pushing for an October 15 start to the crushing season, but many districts faced heavy rainfall in September, disrupting the harvest. Farmers typically prefer to supply their sugar cane without delay, as any postponement in harvesting could result in lower sugar recovery and reduced income, reported The Times of India.
B.B. Thombare, president of the Western India Sugar Mills Association, downplayed the impact on Maharashtra’s mills, stating, “There will be no significant effect on Maharashtra’s mills. The cutters will only be available after Diwali, and the fields in Maharashtra are still wet. It’s unlikely that Karnataka mills will send their cutters for harvesting work in Maharashtra.”
Maharashtra’s sugar cane-producing districts near Karnataka include Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Dharashiv, and Latur, while the bordering districts in Karnataka are Belagavi, Vijaypura, and Bidar.
“There is agitation in Karnataka, where farmers are also demanding a price above the FRP. We, too, have asked for Rs 200 more per tonne than the FRP. I’ve advised farmers not to hurry in supplying their cane, as the shortage may work in their favor, helping them secure better rates,” said Raju Shetti, former MP and president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana.
