Kolhapur: Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Kolte will review the progress of the 2025–26 sugarcane crushing season at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
According to information released by the Sugar Commissionerate, sugar mills in the state have produced 82.559 lakh tonnes of sugar after crushing 88.88 million metric tonnes of sugarcane as of February 5, 2026. The state’s average recovery rate stands at 9.29%. In comparison, total sugar production during the previous season was 81.04 lakh tonnes. Mills have already surpassed last season’s output, and with the season now entering its final phase, several factories are expected to begin closing in the coming days.
Against this backdrop, the meeting has been convened to review key issues such as the remaining cane area in the state, pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) payments, and the likely total sugar production.
A detailed assessment of the crushing season will be carried out during the meeting, including progress so far, the status of FRP payments, remaining cane availability, and crushing permits. Officials and representatives from industry bodies and institutions such as WISMA, VSI, the Agriculture Department, the Padegaon Sugarcane Research Centre, and other organisations linked to the sugar sector have been invited to attend.
Speaking to ChiniMandi, Dr. Kolte said the crushing season has progressed smoothly so far. Although sugar production has already exceeded last season’s level, the meeting has been organised to evaluate the remaining cane area and estimate the final production figures.
He added that the review would help determine the state’s total sugar output for the current season.
Speaking to ChiniMandi, WISMA President B.B. Thombare said, “Based on crushing and production data available as of February 5, 2026, Maharashtra’s overall sugar production is expected to reach between 117 lakh and 118 lakh tonnes. Of this, around 10 lakh tonnes are likely to be diverted for ethanol production.”
