Kolhapur: The sugarcane crushing season in Maharashtra is expected to start only after the state assembly elections to help cane cutters participate in the voting. Process before moving to cane growing regions for work, state industry experts, reported Times of India.
Many sugarcane cutters from the Marathwada region typically travel to the cane-growing districts for work. They usually return to their villages three to four months after the crushing season ends.
Vijay Autade, a sugar industry expert, said that assembly elections in Maharashtra are likely to be held later this year. He explained, “Elections are expected around mid-November, so politicians must make sure that the cane cutters can vote before leaving for work. As a result, the crushing season may not start until after the elections.”
Last year, sugar mills were allowed to begin crushing only after November 1, a delay from the usual start date of October 15. The delay was partly due to a lack of rainfall in cane-producing areas, which affected crop production. To allow the sugarcane to ripen fully and produce the optimal sugar levels, the start of the crushing season was pushed back by 15 days.
This year, Karnataka, a neighbouring state, has announced that its sugar mills will not begin crushing before November 15.
As per media report, a senior official from the state cooperation department said that a high-level meeting, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is scheduled for the first week of October. This meeting will determine the official start date for the crushing season.
