More than half of Maharashtra’s sugar mills may remain closed in the next crushing season due to a possible shortage of sugarcane and rising financial stress in the industry, State Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil told the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
The minister said drought-like conditions expected in the coming kharif season could significantly reduce cane availability, threatening the viability of many mills across the state. This season, 210 sugar mills, including 103 cooperative and 107 private mills, are operational in the state.
Patil pointed out that the economics of the sugar sector has become increasingly strained in recent years. While the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has been raised six times over the past six years, the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar has remained unchanged at ₹31 per kg since 2019.
