Parties, farmer groups demand rollback of sugar export ban

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Ruling and opposition parties, along with various farmer organisations in Maharashtra, on Thursday strongly demanded the rollback of the Centre’s move to impose a ban on sugar exports. 

They claimed that the export ban would further worsen the financial condition of cooperative sugar factories, making it difficult for them to withstand the current situation.

Veteran NCP leader and former state Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said: “Even though there has been bumper sugar production, it is inexplicable to continue the export ban. Factories will be able to provide increased FRP only if money keeps circulating with them. The government should understand the difficulties of the sugar industry and immediately permit exports.”

NCP (SP) legislator and former state Finance Minister Jayant Patil claimed that the government’s sudden ban on sugar exports was a double blow for Maharashtra’s sugar mills.

“Excess stock plus increased FRP plus no exports = financial disaster. We need foreign exchange, yet we’re locking away our surplus. This is a hasty and ill-prepared decision and needs an immediate rollback,” he said.

Leaders of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) also demanded that the Central Government immediately lift the export ban to save the sugar industry.

The AIKS argued that India should adopt an export-oriented policy to provide relief to farmers by tapping global markets where sugar production has declined.

Raju Shetti, founder of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, criticised the decision as “foolish”, saying it would directly hurt farmers.

He remarked that the industry was in a situation where “the mother won't feed, and the father won't let one beg”.

Shetti questioned why factories should be prevented from exporting when global prices are high, especially since the government has refused to increase domestic prices.

He claimed that nearly Rs 12,000 crore in sugarcane dues are pending across the country, including around Rs 3,000 crore in Maharashtra alone, and asked who would be held accountable for the crisis.

In Maharashtra during 2025-26, the total area under sugarcane cultivation stood at 16.06 lakh hectares, with 208 sugar factories, including private and cooperative units, in operation.

The state crushed 1,045.58 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced 991.81 lakh tonnes of sugar.

The cash crop remains politically significant in the state, with several political leaders running cooperative sugar mills that play a major role in local politics.

Earlier, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar launched a scathing attack on the Central Government’s decision to ban sugar exports, terming the move “economically disastrous” for Maharashtra’s cooperative sector.

Speaking at a press conference in Pune, Pawar demanded immediate reconsideration of the policy to prevent the financial collapse of sugar mills.

He also sought immediate withdrawal of the export ban to protect the 2026 sugar season.

Pawar said the ban had come at a time when the state was already grappling with excess sugar production.

He argued that the move would restrict the cash flow needed by factories to pay the recently increased Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to farmers.

“The industry was finally seeing a window of liquidity through international markets. By shutting this door, the government is making it impossible for mills to survive and fulfil their legal obligations to sugarcane growers,” Pawar said.

He also sought government intervention over damage caused by unseasonal rain.

--IANS

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