Sugarcane Farmers Protest Disrupts India's 2026-27 Crushing Season

Sugarcane growers in Maharashtra and Karnataka have disrupted the 2026-27 crushing season, demanding a higher Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and a minimum selling price (MSP) for sugar of Rs 60 per kg. In Maharashtra, only 15 of 55 sugar mills have begun operations, while no mills in Karnataka have started the main season.

Government of India officials, including Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, met with farmers' bodies in New Delhi to address threats of highway blockades. The government established a four-member committee led by agriculture scientist and former Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand to examine the grievances. However, farmers' organizations rejected the move due to the lack of a clear deadline for the report or implementation of recommendations.

Protesters have since disrupted traffic at the Kognoli toll plaza on National Highway 48 and are marching toward Hubballi to protest at the residence of Pralhad Joshi. Demands vary by region, with North Karnataka farmers seeking an FRP of Rs 5,500 per tonne and Southern Karnataka growers requesting at least Rs 4,500 per tonne, compared to the current rate of Rs 3,650. Additional demands include transparency in factory weighing and legislation allowing farmers to become shareholders in sugar factories. Karnataka Cooperation Minister Laxman Savadi criticized the central government for a lack of urgency during negotiations.