Pralhad Joshi urges Karnataka to fix SAP above Centre’s FRP for sugarcane farmers
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi urged Karnataka to introduce a State Advised Price above the Centre’s ₹365/quintal sugarcane FRP for 2026-27, citing farmer concerns. He invited protesting growers to Delhi on October 12, while highlighting sugar mill financial pressures, recovery-linked FRP adjustments and timely cane-payment requirements.
New Delhi: Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has urged the Karnataka government to announce a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane above the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) fixed by the Centre, saying the move would benefit farmers in the state, Deccan Herald reported.
Joshi made the remarks on Wednesday while responding to sugarcane farmers protesting near his residence in Hubballi. He also invited the protesting growers to Delhi for discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on October 12 to hear their concerns.
“Karnataka ranks among the country’s major sugarcane-producing states-third after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in recent production data,” Joshi said.
He pointed out that several major sugarcane-producing states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, notify an SAP higher than the Centre’s FRP, which sugar mills are required to pay farmers.
“Karnataka should introduce SAP which should be over and above the central FRP,” Joshi said.
He also raised concerns over the financial position of sugar factories in Karnataka. Joshi alleged that the state government purchases electricity from sugar factories but has not cleared its dues. He also said higher water utilisation charges imposed on factories had put additional pressure on the sugar industry, which could ultimately affect farmers.
Joshi highlighted measures taken by the Centre for sugarcane growers, including the recently approved FRP of Rs 365 per quintal for the 2026-27 sugar season, beginning October 2026.
The FRP has been fixed for a basic sugar recovery rate of 10.25 per cent. The price will increase or decrease by Rs 3.56 per quintal for every 0.1 percentage-point variation in recovery. A floor price has also been provided, ensuring farmers receive at least Rs 338.30 per quintal if the recovery rate falls below 9.5 per cent.
According to Joshi, the latest FRP is about 100.5 per cent higher than the estimated production cost of Rs 182 per quintal and is above the FRP applicable in the previous season.
Sugar mills are required to pay farmers at least the FRP, while the Centre has directed that cane dues be cleared within one month of cane supply.
Joshi also recalled that after the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, outstanding sugarcane dues of around Rs 23,000 crore owed by sugar mills to farmers were addressed.
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Source : ChiniMandi
