Pune: In a bid to stabilise soaring retail sugar prices ahead of the upcoming festive season, the central government has urged sugar mills in Maharashtra to advance their sugarcane crushing season by 15 days. However, the proposal to commence operations on October 15, instead of the traditional November 1 start date, is facing stiff resistance from both cooperative and private sugar mills across the state.
Retail sugar prices have recently surged to around ₹55-₹60 per kg in several parts of the country. This has prompted the government to explore early crushing to ensure fresh sugar stocks enter the market sooner. With consumer demand expected to peak during Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali, authorities hope an early influx of supplies will help cool the market.
Despite the consumer-friendly intent, industry experts and mill operators are raising alarms over the severe agricultural and financial implications of an early start. The primary concern is the sugar recovery rate—the amount of sugar extracted from a given quantity of cane.
Experts point out that starting the harvest in mid-October does not give the sugarcane adequate time to reach optimal maturity. Former state minister and cooperative sugar mill chairman Rajesh Tope noted that ideal weather conditions for crushing usually arrive in November. “If crushing starts from October 15, the recovery rate will be reduced by at least 1% since the cane will not be mature. It will impact sugar mills financially as production will be lower during those 15 days of October,” Tope stated.
Farmers are also expected to bear the brunt of the move. Harvesting an immature crop reduces its overall weight and quality, directly lowering the financial returns for cultivators who are paid based on tonnage and recovery metrics.
Furthermore, logistical hurdles pose a significant challenge. Late September and October often witness the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon, leaving cane fields waterlogged and making early harvesting physically arduous. There is also a practical shortage of manual labour during this period, as migrant harvest workers from neighbouring states traditionally arrive in Maharashtra only after Dussehra.
While the Sugar Commissionerate has already instructed mills to begin applying for crushing licences online, the final call on the exact start date rests with a state committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, sugar mill federations have clearly stated that if they are forced to adhere to the October 15 deadline, the central government must financially compensate both mills and farmers for the anticipated losses resulting from diminished sugar recovery.