top of page

By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Centre pushes for early sugarcane crushing

Mills seek special subsidy Kolhapur: Despite an estimated 30-40 lakh tonnes of sugar being available in excess of domestic demand, the Centre is stepping up efforts to keep sugar prices under control. The Union Food Ministry has urged Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka to advance the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season so that fresh sugar reaches the market before the existing stock is exhausted. Sugar mills, however, say an early start will come at a cost. They are seeking special...

Centre pushes for early sugarcane crushing

Mills seek special subsidy Kolhapur: Despite an estimated 30-40 lakh tonnes of sugar being available in excess of domestic demand, the Centre is stepping up efforts to keep sugar prices under control. The Union Food Ministry has urged Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka to advance the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season so that fresh sugar reaches the market before the existing stock is exhausted. Sugar mills, however, say an early start will come at a cost. They are seeking special financial assistance to compensate for the likely fall in sugar recovery and the reduction in cane weight that could result from crushing in October. India produced around 280 lakh tonnes of sugar last season. The season began with stocks of nearly 50 lakh tonnes, while annual domestic consumption is estimated at around 280 lakh tonnes. With about 35 lakh tonnes expected to remain in stock by September 30, the Centre wants the new season’s production to start flowing into the market without waiting for the traditional crushing cycle. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka account for nearly 80 per cent of India’s sugar production. The Union Food Ministry has therefore written to the chief ministers of the three states, asking them to bring forward the start of the 2026-27 crushing season. The push comes against the backdrop of a sharp movement in sugar prices. Ex-mill prices had earlier climbed to around Rs 68 per kg, pushing retail prices close to Rs 80 per kg. Following a series of measures by the Centre, ex-mill prices have since declined to around Rs 41 per kg. Yet, the government is looking at further measures to bring prices down and ensure that stocks move into the market. One such measure has been the approval of imports of one million tonnes of raw sugar. Since initial applications covered only around eight lakh tonnes, the Centre has invited applications for the remaining quota. It has also reduced the permissible stockholding limit for traders from 400 tonnes to 200 tonnes. The next major point of discussion will be the meeting convened by Union Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sanjeev Chopra with the sugar industry in New Delhi on September 8. The secretaries of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have also been invited. West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA) president B. B. Thombre said the Centre was pushing for crushing to begin around the middle of October. Traditionally, most mills in Maharashtra begin operations around November 15, largely because sugarcane harvesting labour becomes available only after Diwali. The industry is, however, willing to explore an early start between October 20 and 25. But early crushing could have significant implications. According to Thombre, sugar recovery could fall by around 1.5 percentage points, while the weight of sugarcane supplied by farmers could decline by 10-15 per cent. The industry will therefore seek special assistance for cane crushed between October 15 and November 15. At the September 8 meeting, it plans to demand a subsidy of Rs 500 per tonne for sugar mills and Rs 300 per tonne directly for sugarcane farmers.

Lording Over Satellite City

In the nineties, Ganesh Naik was a formidable name in Belapur who enjoyed the mass support of the local community, especially the aagris. As a Shiv ‘Sainik’, he helped the party grow its base in the area and is known to have single-handedly run the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) or years with an iron fist, decimating opposition. In 2009, he quit the Sena to join the NCP with scores of his supporters following him into the party. But for a man who views political supremacy and electoral winnability as the most important criteria for a career in politics, he moved to the BJP exactly after a decade in 2019. He had lost the assembly elections in 2014 probably in the famous ‘Modi Wave’. Until then, Naik had been on a mega winning spree. AT that time, he took along almost 50 corporators from the municipal corporation, which underscores the value he brings to a party. Naik has proudly claimed to have controlled the NMMC since its inception in 1992.


Naik entered the state assembly in 1994 when he won from Thane with a record margin. It was the time when the Shiv Sena’s Anand Dighe was a formidable force in Thane and Naik got the support of the party cadre. After his fall-out with the Sena in 1999, he joined the NCP and won twice from Airoli. It is said Dighe had opposed him after the initial term. Naik has held several key portfolios in the state government including labour, environment and forests and the lucrative excise department. He was credited with introducing the concept of a Janata Darbar during his time with the Shiv Sena where, as a minister, he would routinely meet people, lend them a helping ear and solve their problems.


His sons Sandeep and Sanjeev are also active in the politics of Belapur-Airoli. Sanjeev became the first and the youngest mayor of the NMMC after its formation in 1992. In 2009, Sanjeev won the Parliamentary elections from Thane on an NCP ticket.


Naik’s other son Sandeep began his career as a corporator in the NMMC which his father unofficially controlled for decades. He was also elected unopposed as the chairman of the standing committee of NMMC. HE rose to prominence after winning the 2009 assembly elections. The family runs several social initiatives in the region of Belapur-Airoli.


In 2024, the father-son duo threatened to quit the BJP if both weren’t given a nomination for the assembly elections. They were considering the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Given their political clout, the BJP nominated both, Ganesh and Sandeep to avoid losing ground in the area.

Comments

bottom of page