The Maharashtra government has imposed restrictions on sugarcane farmers, preventing them from selling their produce outside the state. This is an effort to ensure that there is enough cane for the state s sugar mills to operate at maximum capacity. Erratic rainfall has led to a drought-like situation in Maharashtra, resulting in a drop in sugarcane yield.
Further, Mr Shinde argued that the quota regime allows mills that have no interest in exports to indulge in transferring their quotas and earning money without any actual exports.