The Maharashtra sugarcane protest led by the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana ended after farmers accepted a proposal of a ₹3,900 per tonne first payment for the current crushing season, plus an additional ₹100 at the end of the season. The decision brought the indefinite road blockade at the Kini toll plaza in Kolhapur district to a close late on Friday night.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetti announced the withdrawal before thousands of protesters at the toll plaza at around 1am. The agreement followed negotiations between the farmers’ organisation and representatives of sugar factories after a meeting at the district collector’s office failed to reach a settlement on Thursday.
The proposal accepted by the protesting farmers provides for a first advance of ₹3,900 per tonne during the current crushing season. It also includes an additional payment of ₹100 per tonne at the end of the season. The arrangement is expected to apply in Sangli and Satara districts as well, according to Shetti’s announcement.
A further provision was agreed for the next crushing season. If sugar prices reach ₹4,500, sugar factories will pay ₹200 per tonne before commencing operations for the following season. The source report did not provide details on the mechanism for determining the sugar price or the administrative process for enforcing the payments.
The agreement followed a three-hour meeting held on Thursday at the district collector’s office. The meeting involved Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif, Kolhapur district collector Dr Vijay Rathod and Prakash Awade, but ended without a settlement. Officials subsequently took the sugar factory owners’ proposal to the protest site.
Ichalkaranji sub-divisional officer Deepak Shinde, Hatkanangale tehsildar Sushil Belhekar, additional superintendent of police Annasaheb Jadhav and sub-divisional police officer Amol Thakur reached the protest location at about 11pm. They served a notice on Shetti before he and a small group of senior representatives held a separate discussion with the officials at a nearby hotel. The talks continued for about two hours.
The blockade had placed a major regional transport point at the centre of the dispute, bringing the farmers’ demand into direct contact with road users, toll operations, police authorities and district administration. Its withdrawal removes the immediate disruption at the Kini toll plaza, although the payment commitments will now have to be implemented through the sugar mills and the arrangements agreed for the two payment stages.
Shetti said the movement was being withdrawn following the district collector’s mediation and stated that the agreed rate would also apply to Sangli and Satara. He apologised for the inconvenience caused to citizens and government agencies, while maintaining that the protest was conducted in the interest of farmers. Protesters supported the decision by switching on their mobile phone torches and later celebrated the announcement at the site.
