Sugarcane crushing for the 2026-27 season remains largely stalled in Maharashtra and Karnataka amid protests by growers demanding higher cane prices and an increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar. Only 15 of Maharashtra's 55 sugar mills have started crushing, while none has begun operations for the regular season in Karnataka, sources said on Thursday.
The protests have continued despite the Centre setting up a committee to examine farmers' grievances. The panel, headed by former Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand, was formed following talks between Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and representatives of farmers' organisations in New Delhi.
Most Maharashtra mills await start of crushing
In Maharashtra, 40 of the 55 mills have conducted the customary puja that marks the beginning of the crushing season, which usually starts in October. However, they have not commenced full-scale operations because of the ongoing agitation, sources said.
Fifteen mills began crushing from October 8 onwards. The sugar produced by these units is expected to help cool domestic sugar prices, a source said.
Karnataka's regular crushing season has yet to begin, with sources attributing the delay to the protests. They said eight of the state's 28 mills were operating in a special season, crushing sugarcane grown during that period.
Maharashtra and Karnataka are India's second and third-largest sugar-producing states, respectively. Disruptions in these states could affect the pace of sugar production as the new season gets under way.
Farmers seek higher cane prices and sugar MSP
Growers in both states are demanding a higher support price for sugarcane and an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar to ₹60 per kg.
The agitation intensified after farmers threatened to block national highways, prompting the two Union ministers to hold discussions with key farmers' bodies in the national capital. The talks resulted in a decision to establish a committee under Chand to examine the farmers' concerns.
However, farmers' organisations have rejected the committee's formation as an adequate response and have continued their protests, sources said.
No deadline for committee report raises concerns
The government has formally notified the committee but has not specified a clear deadline for it to submit its report. Nor has it set a timeline for implementing any recommendations that may emerge from the review.
The absence of a defined schedule has angered farmers, who fear that their demands for better cane prices and a higher sugar MSP will not be addressed in the immediate future.
With the protests continuing, the start of crushing at more mills in Maharashtra and the beginning of the regular season in Karnataka remain key developments to watch as the 2026-27 sugar season progresses.