Only 19 of 55 sugar mills in Maharashtra have started crushing operations in the 2026-27 season, while Karnataka has yet to begin, as sugarcane farmer protests disrupt the start of the new season.
New Delhi, October 15 — Sugarcane farmer protests have disrupted the start of the 2026-27 crushing season, with only 19 of 55 sugar mills in Maharashtra beginning operations so far, while mills in Karnataka have yet to start crushing.
Of the 19 operational mills in Maharashtra, 15 started crushing on October 8, while another four began operations on Thursday. The remaining mills have completed the customary puja before the crushing season, and around 30 are expected to begin operations over the next two to three days.
The new sugar season began on October 1, but protests by sugarcane growers have affected the movement of cane to mills. Farmers are demanding a higher cane support price as well as an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar and ethanol.
The agitation has also affected transport movement. Protests along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border disrupted traffic on the Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway, while farmers have also been blocking roads and highways leading to sugar mills.
Sources said agitators had also entered the premises of some sugar mills, raising concerns about the smooth commencement and continuation of crushing operations.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged protesting farmers to cooperate with mills so that crushing can begin early, citing lower sugarcane yields, financial pressure due to drought conditions and high sugar prices.
The start of production at the 19 mills is expected to help cool domestic sugar prices as fresh supply enters the market.
In Karnataka, however, no sugar mill has started crushing operations so far, according to sources. Maharashtra and Karnataka are India’s second- and third-largest sugar-producing states, respectively.
To address growers’ concerns, the government has constituted a committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand. Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have also held discussions with major farmer organisations.
However, farmer groups have rejected the committee-based approach and continued their protest, arguing that there is no clear deadline for the panel to submit its recommendations or for the government to implement them.
The continuing agitation could determine how quickly crushing operations normalise in Maharashtra and Karnataka and may also influence domestic sugar availability and prices during the festive period.
