Maharashtra awaits resolution from the Central Government to end the continuing agitation over sugarcane pricing by farmers’ organisations, and a delegation led by State Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan, is meeting Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today in this context.
Over three weeks after the crushing season in the State began on November 1, nearly half the mills in Maharashtra, primarily those in the Kolhapur-Sangli belt, still remain closed on account of the stir.
Vijay Singhal, sugar commissioner, Maharashtra, said that 96 mills (of around 170) have begun crushing and 40 lakh tonnes of cane have been crushed till November 25.
Among Maharashtra’s demands from the Central Government is export subsidy of Rs 5,000 per tonne for 20 lakh tonnes of the commodity, building of a 50-lakh-tonne buffer stock, as well as making it mandatory for oil marketing companies to lift petrol that has been blended with ethanol. The State has recently approved 10 per cent ethanol blending for petrol.
Three farmers’ organisations — the Swabhimani Shekari Sanghatna and two independent factions of the Shetkari Sanghatana — in the State are pushing for a higher price for sugarcane and the demand ranges from Rs 3,000-3,500 per tonne.