Bijnor: Three months since the start of the sugarcane crushing season, the Uttar Pradesh govt is yet to announce the state advised price (SAP) for 2024-25, causing distress among farmers across the state. Protests have erupted at the district collectorate, with farmers demanding an increase in sugarcane prices.
Farmers said that, like Haryana and Punjab, sugarcane in UP should be priced at Rs 400 per quintal. Last season, the govt had increased the SAP by Rs 20 per quintal, setting the price at Rs 370 per quintal for early-maturing varieties, which farmers say was insufficient.
Mandal president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Baburam Tomar, said, "In the last seven years, UP govt has increased the SAP just three times – by Rs 10, Rs 25, and Rs 20 per quintal – amounting to a total hike of just Rs 55 per quintal. Production costs have increased due to crop diseases like red rot and top borer. Additionally, sugarcane production has declined this year."
Digambar Singh, state president of BKU (Arajnaitik)'s youth wing, said, "Of the 50 lakh sugarcane farmers in the state, 46 lakh farmers supply sugarcane directly to 120 sugar mills across the state. The central govt recently hiked ethanol prices and announced plans to open sugar exports, which will benefit sugar mills. The govt must now increase SAP to provide relief to farmers, who are burdened with debt due to unfair pricing. Last year, prices were announced on Jan 31, while this year no announcement has been made."
Meanwhile, sugar mill owners have opposed any price increase, citing a lower sugar recovery rate this year — down by 0.75% compared to last season. They said that higher cane prices would strain their operations. Bijnor Sugar Mill's unit head, Ravindra Shukla, said, "If SAP is hiked, sugar mills will struggle to make timely payments to farmers."
