Kolhapur, Maharashtra | October 30, 2025:
Tension gripped parts of western Maharashtra, particularly the Kolhapur and Sangli districts, as sugarcane farmers staged protests demanding higher payments for their produce ahead of the 2025-26 crushing season. Angered by what they termed as “unfair rates” offered by sugar mills, several farmers resorted to setting piles of harvested sugarcane on fire, blocking roads, and halting transportation of cane to factories. The protests have caused temporary disruption in the supply chain of sugar mills in the region — one of the state’s major sugar-producing belts. According to local police, the protests began late Wednesday night after talks between farmers’ groups and mill representatives failed to reach an agreement on the cane procurement price. Farmers are demanding rates above the government-mandated Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), citing rising cultivation costs and delays in payment from previous seasons. District officials confirmed that sugarcane transport to several mills in Shirol tehsil has been suspended amid growing unrest. Authorities have deployed additional police forces to prevent escalation and maintain order around factory gates. Leaders from farmer organizations warned that protests would intensify if mill owners do not agree to a revised purchase rate. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner’s office has appealed for calm and assured farmers that the government is reviewing the pricing and payment situation. Industry experts fear that prolonged agitation could delay the start of the crushing season, impacting both sugar output and ethanol production targets for the year. Maharashtra, India’s second-largest sugar-producing state, accounts for nearly 35% of national sugar output, making the unrest a significant concern for the sector.
