Addressing a press conference on the premises of Jawahar Shetakari Sahakari sugar factory at Hupari on Monday, Reddy said that there were 22 sugar factories in Kolhapur and Sangli district. The crushing season for these factories would start from next month, he said and pointed out that barring sugar factories registered under the Multi-State Act, other sugar factories will not allow to purchase cane from outside their jurisdiction or from the neighboring Karnataka, till the total sugarcane is crushed in the factory's jurisdiction first.

Kolhapur district sugar factories total crushing capacity is about 65.35 lakh metric tonnes during 160 days, while actually in thejurisdiction about 78.35 lakh metric tonnes, cane is available for coming season while in Sangli district the capacity of cane crushing is about 31,20 lakh metric tonnes, however canes are available of about 45.30 lakh metric tonnes, he informed.

In Maharashtra there are total 119 sugar factories including three private ones, from which 104 have approached the state government for permission to start crushing season, he added.