Decision Taken at Ministerial Committee Meeting Chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Mumbai, September 2026 : A meeting of the Ministerial Committee was held at Sahyadri Guest House under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to finalise the policy for the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season. The committee approved the commencement of this year’s sugarcane crushing season from October 15, 2026.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Lokesh Chandra, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Shrikar Pardeshi, Principal Secretary of the Cooperation Department Pravin Darade, Sugar Commissioner Dr Sanjay Kolte and senior officials from the concerned departments attended the meeting.
The meeting conducted a detailed review of sugarcane availability in the state, crushing plans, sugar production, the prices received by farmers for sugarcane, and various financial and technical issues faced by sugar mills. Discussions focused on planning the upcoming crushing season while maintaining a balance between the interests of farmers and the sugar industry.
Planning Crushing Season While Balancing Interests of Farmers and Sugar Industry
Principal Secretary of the Cooperation Department Pravin Darade made a presentation covering several issues related to the sugar sector. These included a review of the 2025-26 crushing season, sugar stocks in the country, pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and Revenue Recovery Certificate (RRC) matters, co-generation power projects, ethanol supply, sugarcane area and production, sugar manufacturing, and preparations for the 2026-27 crushing season.
The presentation also covered season-wise FRP and Minimum Support Price (MSP), the policy regarding deductions made by sugar mills for various government initiatives related to the sugar industry, and deductions towards the Gopinath Munde Sugarcane Workers Welfare Board Fund.
The meeting also reviewed the proposal to restart interest subsidy under the soft loan scheme to help sugar mills clear pending dues. It discussed providing a subsidy of Rs 1.50 per unit, similar to the 2023-24 season, to sugar mills whose power purchase agreements related to co-generation projects have expired.
Other issues discussed included relaxing the mandatory requirement for using jute bags for sugar packaging and providing financial and technical incentives to Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) production projects.
A special sugarcane development scheme was also discussed to increase sugarcane production. The proposed initiatives include promoting improved sugarcane varieties, nurseries, sugarcane seed treatment, drip irrigation, balanced use of chemical and organic fertilisers, modern sugarcane cultivation methods and mechanisation. These measures are aimed at increasing both production and productivity among sugarcane-growing farmers.
Recommendations on Issues Pending with Centre
The meeting also discussed matters related to the sugar industry that are pending with the Central Government. It considered recommending to the Centre an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar, a hike in ethanol prices and the immediate release of pending interest subsidies for ethanol projects.
The state government will make recommendations to the Central Government on these issues with the objective of supporting the sugar industry and addressing the concerns of farmers and sugar mills.
