Maharashtra’s sugar production could decline by around 20% to nearly 80 lakh tonnes in the upcoming 2026-27 sugar season due to deficient rainfall, lower sugarcane yields and reduced sugar recovery, according to the West India Sugar Mills Association (WISMA). WISMA Chairman Bhairavnath Thombre said the state has received significantly less rainfall this year, affecting the yield of sugarcane and several other crops. He stressed the need to begin sugarcane crushing early as drought-like conditions are creating challenges for both farmers and sugar mills.
Thombre said water availability for operating sugar mills could become a major concern, particularly during January and February next year. He noted that the government has reserved water in reservoirs primarily for drinking purposes, making water management increasingly difficult for industrial activities. The shortage of rainfall has become particularly serious in Marathwada, Vidarbha, Solapur and Ahilyanagar, where there has reportedly been no significant rainfall for around 45 days. As a result, sugarcane crops are drying up in several areas. 
According to Thombre, early crushing can help reduce losses for farmers, as delaying harvesting could leave sugarcane standing in the fields and eventually drying out. He supported the decision to start Maharashtra’s sugarcane crushing season from October 15, saying an early start could benefit both farmers and sugar mills by allowing the available cane to be processed before conditions worsen.
Despite the expected decline in sugar production, Thombre said favourable sugar prices could help offset some of the impact of lower sugar recovery. He also pointed out that the government has allowed mills to release sugar directly into the market instead of relying only on the earlier quota-based system. He expects sugar prices to remain relatively stable during the Diwali festive season. With Maharashtra facing rainfall and water shortages, the early start of the crushing season is expected to remain an important measure for protecting available sugarcane and supporting farmers during the upcoming season.
