According to the mills, regular supplywill help them avoid getting into financial mess and this will eventually help the farmers. The joint statement has come a day before the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by former MP Raju Shetti, is holding a congregation of sugar cane farmers at Jaysingpur.

 

The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, which has good following among the sugar cane farmers from most parts of the key cane producing districts, has already initiated an agitation to stop harvesting of the crop and its transport to the mills. As per the farmers’ body, the mills should first announce the price for buying the sugar cane and only then the produce will be allowed to be cut and transported.

 

The sugar mills, in the joint statement, has categorically stated that they are not in any position to pay more than the fair and remunerative price (FRP) fixed by the central government. The FRP for the current season of sugarcane is Rs 3,150 per tonne for 10.25% sugar recovery rate. The mills are willing to pay the amount as per the sugar recovery rate, but Shetti is expected to demand additional amount citing bullish market scenario.

 

“In the last five years while the FRP amount has increased, the minimum support price of sugar has remained constant which has not yielded much profit for the mills. We should also fight to get the MSP increased so that the mills will be in a position to clear the loan and provide good returns to the farmers,” read the statement signed by the top officials of the sugar mills.

 

The mills are pressing for immediate start of crushing, stating that delay will lead to less availability of the produce and affect the revenue of the mills. “This time the mills are going to operate not for more than 100 days owing to shortage of sugar cane. Already, the mills from neighbouring districts and state (Karnataka) have started crushing and there are chances that the farmers will send their produce to the mills based there,” the statement added.

 

Sugar mills in south Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Solapur, will start crushing sugar canes on Wednesday. The mills in Kolhapur have announced a price equal to the fair and remunerative price (FRP) set by the central government. Other mills in the region have not yet announced the price to be paid to farmers. The delay in starting the crushing season was due to poor rainfall. The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has advised farmers not to rush to the mills and to negotiate a fair deal due to the shortage of sugar cane.

 

The Saraswati Sugar Mills in Yamunanagar, India, has started its crushing operation for the 2023-24 season ahead of schedule, much to the delight of sugarcane farmers in the region. The mill is known for its efficient functioning and prompt payment to farmers. However, farmers are unhappy with the lack of increase in sugarcane prices and the delay in the state government announcing prices. Despite this, the early start to the mill's operations will allow farmers to sow wheat in a timely manner. The mill aims to crush 175 lakh quintals of sugarcane this year.

 

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