Violence erupted in various parts of Maharashtra when sugarcane farmers protested against the FRP (Fair and Remunerative Price) by sugarcane mills that were located in Kolhapur and Sangli. In other parts of Maharashtra, sugarcane farmers locked down some offices of sugarcane mills as they demanded full payments of Fair and Remunerative Price.

Almost 2 months after the cane season started, sugarcane mills already have a debt of Rs 4, 575.53 crores. Around 75 sugarcane mills in Kolhapur and Sangli have not paid a single penny to the farmers who grow sugarcane.

Last Friday, most of the sugarcane mills have started to pay their farmers, but instead of the full price, the mills decided to pay them Rs 2,300 per 1000 kg. This is not the FRP of Kolhapur and Sangli, farmers were unpleased when they were told that they were getting Rs 2,300 per tonne instead of Rs 2,850 per tonne.

A chairman of one cooperative mill in Kolhapur said that if you compare the production cost of Rs 3,400 per quintal and the minimum selling price of sugar which is Rs 2,900 per quintal. He added: “In such a situation, it is impossible for us to pay the FRP at one go.”

Millers from Kolhapur met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and asked for some financial help. Sharad Pawar (NCP Chief) asked for a bailout package that is worth 500 crores. Recent demands from the mill industry include raising the minimum selling price of sugar to Rs 3,400 per quintal, they say this will help millers pay the FRP to the farmers.

In some parts of the same district, farmers took the matter into their own hands and went to protest against the part payment of the FRP. Farmers in Sangli burn down offices in Krishna Cooperative Sugar mill, Kranti Cooperative Sugar Mill and Jayawant Sugar Mill.