Pune: 1300 Sugarcane Harvesting Machine Owners To Launch Indefinite Protest From March 10
Pune: 1300 Sugarcane Harvesting Machine Owners To Launch Indefinite Protest From March 10
Pune, March 7, 2025: The Maharashtra State Sugarcane Harvesting Machine Owners Association has announced an indefinite protest from March 10 in front of the Sugar Commissioner’s office, demanding a 50% increase in harvesting rates, a three-year extension on loan repayments, and a 1.5% reduction in trash deduction.
A delegation led by Amolraje Vasantrao Jadhav, the association’s secretary, submitted a memorandum to Sugar Commissioner Siddharam Salimath on Wednesday. The protest will involve 1,300 machine owners across the state. The memorandum will also be submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister.
Association members Abhay Kolhe, Rajabhau Lomte, Dhananjay Kale, Ganesh Yadav, Nilesh Bagate, Kaleem Shaikh, Sharad Chavan, Rahul Ithape, and Rajat Nalawade were present during the submission.
The association also urged an increase in transportation and harvesting charges. Despite a government push for agricultural mechanization, around 1,300 harvesting machines are in operation, but nearly 900 machines have not received subsidies since 2019.
With rising diesel costs, it takes three liters of diesel per ton of harvested sugarcane, costing ₹260-₹280 per ton, while labor, maintenance, and spare parts add ₹180 per ton, bringing the total cost to ₹460 per ton. However, sugar mills currently pay only ₹450-₹500 per ton, making loan repayments difficult.
The association has urged authorities to address their demands promptly, citing an unfair 13.5% trash deduction imposed on farmers, harvesters, and transporters.
