We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry. current time
Sugar Industry Struggles to Bring Forward Crushing Season
India’s sugar industry may struggle to begin the upcoming crushing season earlier than usual, despite commitments made to the government to bring operations forward by around two weeks. Industry officials say a shortage of migrant workers is emerging as the biggest obstacle, with most harvesting labour expected to become available only around Diwali in November.
Mechanised cane harvesting remains limited in several key producing areas and is not yet capable of filling the gap created by inadequate manual labour. As a result, most mills are expected to stick close to their regular operating schedules rather than start crushing in October.
Industry organisations, including the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and the National Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation, had indicated that mills would try to begin crushing 10-15 days earlier than normal. The move was proposed as a way to improve sugar availability and help moderate prices, provided weather and field conditions remained suitable.
The need for an earlier start has gained urgency as domestic sugar prices continue to remain elevated despite government efforts to contain the market. Measures such as stock limits and physical verification of inventories have so far failed to bring sustained relief to buyers.
The availability and cost of harvesting labour will now play a crucial role in determining how quickly mills can begin operations. Gahini Thore Patil, a representative of sugarcane harvesting workers in Maharashtra, said many labourers would not be in a position to travel to sugar-producing regions before the first week of November. Their movement could also depend on whether mills agree to increase harvesting wages. With an early crushing season facing practical hurdles, the government is considering ways to encourage mills to start operations sooner. According to industry officials, discussions have included offering mills a larger monthly sugar sales allocation or permitting them to sell the entire quantity produced during October.
Such incentives could improve the economics of an early start, but the labour constraint remains a major challenge. Unless sufficient workers reach the fields in time, even mills willing to begin crushing early may find it difficult to secure enough harvested cane.
The coming weeks will therefore be crucial for determining whether the industry can deliver on its promise. For consumers and bulk buyers already facing high sugar prices, the timing of the new crushing season could have a direct bearing on near-term supplies and market sentiment.
