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92 of the state’s 224 sugar mills have started crushing so far, according to the state sugar commissionerate. These mills, with a combined crushing capacity of 10 lakh tonnes a day, have crushed 43.9 lakh tonnes of cane and produced 30.9 lakh quintals of sugar at a recovery rate of 7%. “Not all mills started on Oct 15. Raju Shetti has demanded a first instalment of Rs 4,500 per tonne and a second instalment of Rs 500 per tonne for sugar cane.
Because of drought, “Farmers know cane yields may be lower.
Sugar industry expert Vijay Autade said the current production figures were not unexpected. These are the key factors behind lower production,” he said. Autade said drought conditions were also pushing farmers to harvest early. Yet they are willing to let harvesting begin as water shortages have made it difficult to keep the crop standing,” he said. A mill representative said factories were reluctant to commit to the demanded rate. In that situation, mills will find it difficult to pay the price being demanded,” he said.
Many began operations only in the last few days. Mills also do not run at full capacity immediately after starting. His protests have included a highway blockade, bike rallies and visits to sugar factories across the region. A meeting involving Kolhapur guardian minister Prakash Abitkar, Shetti and millers failed to break the deadlock. “With ethanol production restricted, sugar output will increase and prices may fall.
An official from the sugar commissionerate said more mills were expected to come online soon. Once all mills receive licences, we are hopeful that sugar production will increase,” the official said. “The process of issuing crushing licences is still underway.