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Agriculture
Farmers block Pune‑Bangalore highway demanding higher sugarcane rates in Satara
✍️ News18 Marathi
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 03:48 AM
👁 10
Farmers in Satara halted traffic on the Pune‑Bangalore highway to press for better sugarcane prices, causing a significant jam on the route.
Satara district witnessed a farmer-led blockade on the Pune‑Bangalore national highway on Monday, as agricultural workers demanded an increase in the prevailing sugarcane procurement price. The protestors positioned their tractors and carts along the carriageway, effectively stopping the flow of vehicles in both directions.
The disruption led to a considerable backlog of traffic, with commuters and commercial trucks forced to wait for several hours. Local police were present at the scene, monitoring the situation and urging drivers to seek alternative routes while the demonstration continued.
Organisers of the protest said the current sugarcane rates do not reflect the rising cost of cultivation and have adversely affected farmer incomes. They called for immediate intervention from the state government and the sugar mills to revise the pricing structure.
No reports of violence or arrests were recorded as of the latest update, and authorities were in contact with farmer representatives to seek a resolution.
The highway jam is expected to ease once the protest is cleared, but the underlying demand for higher sugarcane prices remains a contentious issue in Maharashtra's agricultural sector.
The disruption led to a considerable backlog of traffic, with commuters and commercial trucks forced to wait for several hours. Local police were present at the scene, monitoring the situation and urging drivers to seek alternative routes while the demonstration continued.
Organisers of the protest said the current sugarcane rates do not reflect the rising cost of cultivation and have adversely affected farmer incomes. They called for immediate intervention from the state government and the sugar mills to revise the pricing structure.
No reports of violence or arrests were recorded as of the latest update, and authorities were in contact with farmer representatives to seek a resolution.
The highway jam is expected to ease once the protest is cleared, but the underlying demand for higher sugarcane prices remains a contentious issue in Maharashtra's agricultural sector.