India sugarcane farmers oppose early crushing
Farmers warn that premature harvesting could reduce sugar recovery and cane yields, while pressing the government for measures to protect returns.
INDIA – Sugarcane farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka are opposing the Indian government’s push for early sugarcane crushing ahead of Diwali, seeking compensation for lower recovery and higher prices for sugar and ethanol before mills begin operations.
Farmer organisations have urged growers and sugar mills not to begin harvesting and crushing until their demands are addressed. They said crushing immature sugarcane could reduce cane output and sugar recovery, causing financial losses for both farmers and mills.
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has called a meeting on October 12 to discuss the demands raised by farmer organisations.
Farmer leaders said increasing the minimum selling price of sugar and raising ethanol prices would strengthen mills’ ability to pay farmers higher prices for sugarcane.
“Why should the farmers and the mills suffer losses just because the government wants to increase sugar availability for the festival season,” a farmer leader said.
The farmer leader said crushing immature cane could reduce output by six tonnes per acre, resulting in a financial loss of about Rs 20,000 per acre. Early crushing could also reduce sugar recovery because the sucrose content of sugarcane generally increases after November, the leader said.
India has shifted from being a sugar exporter to an importer over the past six months after lower production estimates and reduced exports depleted domestic stocks, contributing to historically high sugar prices.
To improve domestic availability and control prices, the Centre has asked sugar mills to bring forward their crushing operations by about one month.
Farmer organisations last week protested outside Joshi’s residence in Hubballi, seeking compensation for losses associated with early crushing.
Farmer leaders also claimed that almost half of India’s sugar is produced by mills located on both sides of the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, where drought conditions are affecting the region.
They warned that lower sugar recovery during the current season could affect farmers’ returns in the following year because the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is linked to sugar recovery.
Sugar mills could also face financial losses if recovery falls below the prescribed level, farmer leaders said. Mills are required to pay the minimum FRP applicable to a 10.25% recovery rate even when their actual recovery is lower.
The farmer organisations are therefore seeking compensation for losses arising from early crushing, alongside higher sugar and ethanol prices.
The October 12 meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the government and farmer representatives to discuss the demands before the crushing season advances.
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