Kolhapur: Tension is mounting in Kolhapur’s Shirol tehsil as the 2025–26 sugarcane crushing season is set to begin this Saturday. The unrest began on Tuesday after a truck carrying sugarcane to a factory was set on fire by unidentified people. The incident was followed by protests in Jaysingpur on Wednesday, where farmers stopped cane transportation and halted cutting operations in several areas, reports The Times of India.
Farmer groups, including the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana led by former MP Raju Shetti and Andolan Ankush led by Dhanaji Chudmunge, are leading the agitation. They are demanding that sugar mills offer a price higher than the Centre’s Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and make timely payment mandatory. The leaders argue that the sugar industry’s profits justify higher rates for farmers. Shetti has demanded ₹3,751 per tonne—₹201 more than the current FRP of ₹3,550 per tonne.
“We don’t yet know who was behind the incident. Cane cutting has already started, and vehicles will soon line up outside the mills. Crushing will begin on the date announced by the state government. If needed, we will provide security for cane transport,” said a senior police officer.
Agitations over sugarcane prices in Kolhapur district have often turned violent in the past. Shetti has said he will wait until the first week of November and, if no resolution is reached, will personally take to the streets to stop cane transport. He has urged his supporters to submit their demands in writing to sugar mill owners and advised farmers not to rush into harvesting, expressing confidence that mills will eventually agree to pay the higher rate.
Meanwhile, sugar mills are keen to begin crushing but are concerned as mills in neighbouring Karnataka have already started operations. There are fears that Maharashtra’s farmers might send their cane to factories across the state border if the situation persists.
