Maharashtra faces sugarcane glut as end of crushing season nears

Sugarcane glut is emerging as a severe problem for mills and farmers in Maharashtra as the time is drawing to a close. In the very last sugar period, only 189 sugar mills have been operational in the Point out by February 25. These sugar mills experienced crushed 80.471 million tonnes (mt) of sugarcane as sugar season was ending. 

This year, 197 sugar mills are operational and have crushed 91.607 mt of sugarcane and continue to, there is a lot more to occur. In accordance to sources, there is close to 30 mt of sugarcane nonetheless on the fields. 

Very last period mills in the Condition experienced made 8.237 mt of l sugar by February 25, although this year the sugar generation has previously crossed 9.38 mt.

Mills in a quandary 

Considering the glut, mills have enhanced their daily crushing capability and a lot of mill directors say now it would not be achievable for them to operate operations past sure period.

“The authorities should really have an understanding of the floor truth. Mills have limits to continue on crushing functions. The readily available mechanism is able of crushing only to a selected limit,” claimed an formal involved with just one of the sugar mills in Sangli district. 

According to industry players, lots of mills have by now crossed their crushing ability and someway are dragging on the period. But this may well not proceed for a extensive and mills will have to announce the closure. Only a couple massive sugar mills in the Condition will be equipped to work until finally the future month-end.

State’s warning 

The Sugar Commissioner of Maharashtra has now warned of action towards mills which are unsuccessful to carry all available sugarcane in the allotted locality. The Condition federal government has asked mills to choose authorization prior to saying closures for the year. 

The authorities has warned that the director boards of the sugar mills will be held liable for uncrushed sugarcane. In scenario mills are unable to crush the extra sugarcane, the director board need to co-ordinate with other mills so that farmers can divert their sugarcane to them. At any cost, mills can’t depart farmers in the lurch, the governing administration has warned. 

Farmers worried 

Farmer organizations, in particular in western Maharashtra, w the sugar bowl of the State, say sugar mills are not responding to their phone calls to liftethe sugarcane from their industry. 

“Farmers are really struggling to connect with mills and requesting them to dispatch sugarcane cutter groups to the fields. Even sugarcane cutters are not responding,” reported Ramesh Sawant, a farmer.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetti reported sugar mills in the Condition cannot shrug off their tasks and have to raise all the sugarcane made by farmers. He reported when there is the scarcity of sugarcane, mills are immediately after farmers inquiring for sugarcane, and now the similar mills are turning their again on the farmers.

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February 25, 2022