Maharashtra cane crushing opens October 15 as farmers push back on early start
Representative image: sarangib / Pixabay
Maharashtra's 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season opens on or before October 15, with 210 mills licensed; the Centre meets on farmers' concerns on October 12.
What Happened
Maharashtra's sugar mills can begin crushing sugarcane for the 2026-27 season from Thursday, October 15, 2026, with the state allowing licensed mills to start on or before that date. The start date was set after a ministerial committee meeting on September 9 and approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, according to the state's Sugar Commissioner's office. Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte has said the date is not compulsory and has appealed to mills to preferably begin on October 15. Industry reports say crushing licences have been issued to 210 mills, 104 cooperative and 106 private, all of which had cleared the fair and remunerative price (FRP) owed to farmers. Farmer groups have raised concerns about an early start, and Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi has called a meeting on October 12 to discuss their demands.
Key Facts
- Season start: on or before October 15, 2026, for licensed cooperative and private mills.
- The date follows a ministerial committee meeting on September 9, 2026, and the Chief Minister's approval.
- Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte has said mills may start before or after October 15, but has asked them to preferably start on that date.
- Licences: 210 mills (104 cooperative, 106 private), according to industry reports; applications were taken from September 1 to 30.
- Only mills that had paid 100% of the previous season's FRP dues were eligible for a licence.
- Some mills in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts are expected to start before October 15.
- Farmer organisations have opposed an early start; the Union Food Minister has called a meeting on October 12 on their demands, including compensation.
- Ex-mill sugar prices have risen by about Rs 600 per quintal in a week on tight supplies ahead of the new season, trade reports say.
Why It Matters
Maharashtra is one of India's two largest sugar-producing states, and its crushing season shapes the incomes of lakhs of cane farmers, the wages of seasonal harvest workers who migrate to the cane belt each year, and the finances of hundreds of cooperative and private mills. When the season starts, how long it runs and how quickly mills pay for cane all decide how much money reaches villages in western Maharashtra and Marathwada.
The timing of the start is a balancing act. Mills want to begin early so they can run longer and spread their fixed costs. Farmers, however, say that cane harvested too early may not have reached full weight and sugar content, especially in a year when inadequate rainfall has slowed crop growth in several parts of the state. Since cane is paid for by weight, an immature crop can mean less money for the grower. That is why farmer groups want either a later start or compensation, and why the Centre has called a meeting on October 12.
The FRP condition attached to the licences matters for farmers too. By issuing licences only to mills that had paid the full price for last season's cane, the state is using the season's start as leverage to clear dues owed to growers.
The new season also arrives with sugar prices rising. Tight stocks at mills ahead of fresh production have lifted ex-mill prices, and the start of crushing in Maharashtra and other states will be watched closely for its effect on supply over the festival months.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date | On or before October 15, 2026 |
| Licensed mills | 210 (104 cooperative, 106 private) |
| Licence condition | Full FRP paid for 2025-26 cane |
| Centre's meeting | October 12, on farmers' demands |
Impact
Short-term: Mills in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara may begin crushing within days, and harvest labour will start moving into the cane belt.
Long-term: How early the season starts, and whether farmers are compensated for early harvests, will affect cane yields, farmer incomes and the state's sugar output for 2026-27.
Who is affected: Cane farmers, migrant harvest workers, cooperative and private sugar mills in Maharashtra, and sugar buyers facing rising prices.
Key Takeaway
Maharashtra's 2026-27 cane crushing season opens on or before October 15, with 210 licensed mills, as farmers push back against an early start in a weak-rainfall year.
Questions and Answers
When does Maharashtra's sugarcane crushing season start in 2026?
Licensed mills can start on or before October 15, 2026. The Sugar Commissioner has asked mills to preferably begin on that date but has said it is not compulsory.
Why are farmers worried about an early start?
Cane cut before it is fully mature can weigh less and contain less sugar. Because farmers are paid by weight, an early harvest can reduce their earnings, especially in a year of patchy rain.
Which mills got crushing licences?
According to industry reports, 210 mills received licences, 104 cooperative and 106 private, and only mills that had paid the full FRP for last season's cane were eligible.
What is the Centre doing about farmers' concerns?
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi has called a meeting on October 12, 2026 to discuss farmers' demands linked to the early start, including compensation.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
