New Policies Target Sugarcane Yield Boost and Farmer Support in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved a suite of measures to lift sugarcane production and improve farmer welfare for the 2026‑27 crop year. The meeting at Sahyadri Guest House featured Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Cooperative Minister Babasaheb Patil, Agriculture Minister Dattatreya Bharane, and Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe‑Patil.

Cooperative Department Secretary Praveen Darade presented a "Sugarcane Development Plan" that emphasizes high‑yield varieties, certified nurseries, drip irrigation, balanced use of chemical and organic fertilizers, and mechanisation. The plan aims to raise both productivity and profitability for growers.

Financial incentives include a soft‑loan interest subsidy of up to ₹10 lakh for cultivators and a continuation of the ₹1.50 per unit electricity discount for sugar mills whose power purchase contracts have lapsed. The cabinet also agreed to relax mandatory jute bag requirements for sugar packaging.

The session concluded with a set of recommendations to the central government for a higher minimum sugar selling price and increased ethanol pricing, alongside immediate release of pending interest subsidies for ethanol projects.