Thanjavur Farmers Urge Govt Support as Sugarcane Crushing Declines at Kurungulam Mill
13 Oct 2026Updated 2 hr ago1 source
AI translation — this coverage was originally reported in Tamil; the translation may contain errors. Read the original reports below.
Sugarcane crushing at the Arignar Anna Sugar Mills in Kurungulam, Thanjavur, has significantly declined, reaching just 1.29 lakh tonnes in 2025 against its 4.50 lakh tonne capacity. Local farmers attribute this to high cultivation, harvesting, and transport costs, causing many to switch to alternative crops. Farmers are urging the government to increase the cane price to Rs 4,500 per tonne, release pending incentives, and subsidize seed cane and fertilizers.
NIKAN Intelligence
What happened
Sugarcane crushing at the state-owned Arignar Anna Sugar Mills in Kurungulam, Thanjavur, has dropped drastically to 1.29 lakh tonnes. Due to high cultivation and labor costs, farmers in the Cauvery Delta are increasingly shifting to alternative crops like cassava, maize, and groundnuts.
Why it matters
Sugarcane is a major cash crop in the Delta districts. A persistent decline in sugarcane farming directly threatens the operational viability of local sugar mills and reduces the agricultural income of regional farmers.
What we know
- Arignar Anna Sugar Mills has an annual crushing capacity of 4.50 lakh tonnes.
- Crushing volumes fell to 1.25 lakh tonnes in 2024 and registered 1.29 lakh tonnes in 2025.
- Farmers are demanding a price of Rs 4,500 per tonne, compared to the current pricing model which targets up to Rs 4,000 with incentives.
- High harvesting labor costs and transportation fees are primary reasons for farmers moving away from sugarcane.
What we don't know
- Whether the Tamil Nadu government will agree to increase the procurement price to Rs 4,500 per tonne.
- The exact date when the government will release the pending incentive payments to the farmers.
- Whether the sugar mill administration will utilize its surplus land for seed cane cultivation or initiate ethanol production from other crops.
What's next
Farmers expect the state government to disburse the pending sugarcane incentive payments before the Diwali festival.
Generated by NIKAN's analysis engine from the cited reports only. Nothing here is invented; gaps are shown as unknowns. Always read the original coverage linked below.
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