India, Sept. 16 -- The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved an estimated Rs.738.51 crore interest subsidy for soft loans to cooperative sugar mills, aimed primarily at helping them clear pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues to sugarcane farmers for the 2025-26 crushing season and meet preparatory expenses for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The subsidy will primarily support mills in clearing their Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues for the 2025-26 crushing season. Mills that have no outstanding FRP payments can use the loans for preparatory work ahead of the 2026-27 season.

As many as 102 cooperative sugar mills crushed 527.51 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane during the 2025-26 season. Several mills faced financial difficu...