📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Ravan Khosa
Derivative work: Aristeas
Agriculture
Farmers Block Pune‑Bengaluru Highway Demanding Fair Sugarcane Rates
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🗓 06 Nov 2026, 06:32 AM
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Large groups of sugarcane growers halted traffic on the Pune‑Bengaluru highway, demanding that the government fix a fair price for their crop.
A sizeable contingent of sugarcane farmers gathered on the Pune‑Bengaluru highway on Saturday, blocking traffic to press for a reasonable minimum price for their crop. The protest, organized through social media platforms, aims to compel state authorities to revise the current procurement rates, which the growers say are below production costs.
The demonstrators set up temporary barricades and displayed placards calling for "fair sugarcane rates" while police monitored the situation to prevent any escalation. No reports of violence or injuries have emerged, and traffic diversion measures were put in place to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
Agricultural officials from the Maharashtra government have been approached for a meeting, but a concrete response on the pricing formula has not yet been announced. The farmers have warned that they will continue the blockade until their demands are addressed, emphasizing the impact of low prices on their livelihoods.
The protest reflects broader concerns among sugarcane growers across the region, who argue that fluctuating market rates and delayed payments threaten the sustainability of their farms. Stakeholders are awaiting a formal statement from the state cabinet on the proposed price revision.
The situation remains fluid, with authorities urging dialogue and promising to review the pricing mechanism in the coming days.
The demonstrators set up temporary barricades and displayed placards calling for "fair sugarcane rates" while police monitored the situation to prevent any escalation. No reports of violence or injuries have emerged, and traffic diversion measures were put in place to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
Agricultural officials from the Maharashtra government have been approached for a meeting, but a concrete response on the pricing formula has not yet been announced. The farmers have warned that they will continue the blockade until their demands are addressed, emphasizing the impact of low prices on their livelihoods.
The protest reflects broader concerns among sugarcane growers across the region, who argue that fluctuating market rates and delayed payments threaten the sustainability of their farms. Stakeholders are awaiting a formal statement from the state cabinet on the proposed price revision.
The situation remains fluid, with authorities urging dialogue and promising to review the pricing mechanism in the coming days.