Maharashtra’s sugar mills to start operations from November 1

Sugar mill owners in western Maharashtra had sought an earlier date, as mills across the Maharashtra-Karnataka border face cane poaching by mills in Karnataka. Thombare said the state government would officially write to the Karnataka government to ensure that mills there start operations at the same time as Maharashtra.

Maharashtra is one of the few states where the crushing season starts on a date decided by the government. Mills in neighbouring Karnataka start as per their convenience. For mills in the border districts of Solapur, Sangli and Kolhapur, this poses a problem as their cane gets poached by mills in Karnataka.

Farmers in the border districts leverage their advantage and do not wait for the mills in Maharashtra to start. Many, thus, end up selling their cane to the earliest bidder.

Cooperative mill owners had requested October 15 as the start date of operations, but mill owners in Marathwada opposed it. “Last year, a substantial amount of cane was harvested by Karnataka mills; with mills increasing their crushing capacity, the availability of cane is a major issue. Thus, mill owners have asked the state government to take steps to ensure they are not at a loss,” a sugar miller from Kolhapur said.

Thombare said Maharashtra is expected to crush 1000 lakh tonnes of cane and manufacture around 115-118 lakh tonnes of sugar. Mill owners are expected to divert 12-15 lakh tonnes of sugar for manufacturing ethanol.

Meanwhile, former MP and farm leader Raju Shetti has decided to conduct the Oosh Parishad or cane conclave on October 16.

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