Only 15 of 55 Maharashtra sugar mills begin crushing amid farmers' protest

Amid the ongoing protest by sugarcane growers, only 15 of 55 sugar mills in Maharashtra have begun crushing in the 2026-27 season, while Karnataka has yet to begin, even as the government has set up a committee to address the farmers' grievances, according to sources on Thursday.

In Maharashtra, 40 mills have performed the customary puja that precedes the crushing season starting in October, but have not begun full-fledged operations because of the agitation, sources said.

Fifteen mills started operations from October 8 onwards.

"The sugar produced from these 15 mills is expected to cool down sugar prices", a source said.

"In Karnataka, not a single mill is operating now because of the protest," the sources said, adding that only eight of the state's 28 mills are running, crushing cane grown in the special season.

Maharashtra and Karnataka are the country's second and third largest sugar-producing states, respectively.

Farmers in both states are demanding a higher cane support pri