Every year, the state reviews the sugarcane situation in May. It not only failed in assessing the situation last year, but after the crisis of surplus cane, blamed farmer agitations, claiming that they caused a delay in the commencement of the crushing season by about a month. But the agitations were confined in western Maharashtra, while the surplus sugarcane (which could not be crushed) was in the Marathwada region. It is this region where several Congress leaders like CM Deshmukh, NCP leaders like Rajesh Tope and even BJP leader Gopinath Munde run sugar cooperatives.

The vital issue is that the area under sugarcane is increasing and next year, according to estimates of the fact-finding committee of the Congress, there is an overall 10 per cent increase in the area and production. It is estimated that the sugar production next year would be between 95 lakh tonnes to 100 lakh tonnes. Since the situation is going to worsen further, the time seems to be ripe for introducing some kind of crop-planning. The area under sugarcane cultivation could be curtailed to maintain the balance of demand and supply.

The state has urged Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to intervene and provide relief to the sugar cooperatives. And relief is in sight for the rural power-centres of the Congress and the NCP (and BJP too), especially as Pawar also has high stakes in cooperatives.