Sugarcane growers in Maharashtra launched an aggressive highway blockade on November 3, 2026, halting traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway for over ten hours after preliminary pricing negotiations collapsed. Protesters gathered at the Kini toll plaza in Kolhapur district under the banner of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana to demand an initial payment of 4,500 rupees per ton for the current crushing season.
Farmers Block Pune-Bengaluru Route
The agitation began early in the morning. Long lines of vehicles came to a standstill as protesters blocked the national highway for more than ten hours.
Parallel demonstrations broke out across the region. In Satara district’s Nagthane area, farmers staged a sit-in protest on the highway under the leadership of district president Raju Shelke and Arjun Pawar.
In Pandharpur, the dispute intensified. The sugarcane price struggle committee shut down crushing operations at two local facilities: the Vitthal Cooperative Sugar Factory in Venunagar and the Vitthalrao Shinde Cooperative Sugar Factory in Karkamb. Union leader Deepak Bhosale accused MLA Abhijit Patil of attempting to break the agitation.
Leaders Issue Ultimatum Over Pricing Deadlock
The protests followed a failed meeting between farmer representatives, the guardian minister, and sugar mill owners. Demonstrators maintained that no cane cutting would be permitted until the first installment was officially fixed at the demanded rate.
Former parliamentarian and union leader Raju Shetti addressed the crowd. He criticized the state administration and mill operators for proceeding with crushing operations without declaring an initial payout.
Sugar sells near 5,200 rupees per quintal. Shetti argued that a cane rate of 4,500 rupees per ton was justified.
Union leaders issued a direct ultimatum to authorities. They warned that the agitation would expand if a resolution was not reached by the following afternoon.
Officials were warned that secondary measures would involve blocking the supply of vegetables and milk to Mumbai.
Growers Forge Cross-Border Unity
The current mobilization marks a rare convergence of agricultural producers across state boundaries. Organizers noted that growers from Kolhapur joined forces with those from Sangli. Growers from Satara, Solapur, Pune, and border districts of Karnataka also joined under a single banner, with farmers from Maharashtra and Karnataka coming together in the agitation after 45 years.
The unrest extended across state lines to Belagavi. Farmers demonstrated outside the district collectorate before staging a sit-in protest on the main road connecting to Channamma Circle.
Protesters blocked state transport buses and shouted slogans against the administration. Local authorities deployed heavy police forces to restore order.
Reports indicated that a confidential meeting was held at an undisclosed location. The meeting took place under the chairmanship of district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Farmer leaders Chunnappa Pujari and Shashikant Guruji participated. District panchayat chief executive officer Rahul Shinde attended as well.
Recalling his experience, Raju Shetti noted that during the first sugarcane conference, mill owners were ready to pay 407 rupees. After the agitation, 750 rupees was secured when the sugar rate stood at 850 rupees.
Organizers maintained that the current demonstrations will continue until every unit of harvested cane is properly accounted for and fair initial payments are guaranteed.
Questions on The Cane Price Conflict
Why did the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana launch the highway protest?
The organization demanded a minimum first installment of 4,500 rupees per ton for sugarcane during the current crushing season.
Where did the primary traffic blockades take place?
Protesters halted traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway near the Kini toll plaza in Kolhapur district, alongside a parallel sit-in demonstration at Nagthane in Satara district.
What triggered the sudden escalation of the agitation?
The protests erupted after a preliminary discussion between state ministers, local administrators, and sugar factory owners ended without a consensus on pricing.
