Farmers seek Rs 600/quintal as sugarcane SAP in Haryana
Sugarcane farmers in Haryana are demanding an increase in the State Advised Price (SAP) from ₹415 to ₹600 per quintal, citing rising cultivation costs and higher sugar prices. Farmers say inadequate price hikes are driving a shift to other crops, reducing cane area and affecting mill operations.
Following a sharp increase in the prices of sugar, the sugarcane farmers have started raising a demand for an increase in the state advised price (SAP) of sugarcane in Haryana.
The farmers have demanded that the SAP in the state should be increased to Rs 600 a quintal from the current Rs 415 a quintal.
The sugarcane farmers claimed that the hike in last few years was insufficient due to which the farmers have started shifting to other crops.
Vinod Rana, president of Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said “The sugar prices have increased to Rs 65 a kg but the SAP of sugarcane hasn’t been increased in the same proportion over the years. Even last year we had informed the government that the cost of production of Sugarcane has been increasing continuously due to increasing prices of insecticides, fertilizer, fuel and labour charges. Due to increasing expenses, the farmers have been shifting to other crops and it will have an adverse impact on sugarcane production. The mills are not getting adequate sugarcane to meet their targets and it is affecting their production too. We have come to know that the area under Sugarcane in Ambala and Yamunanagar have been declining.”
“The government should increase the SAP of sugarcane to Rs 600 per quintal. We also request the government that it should also develop its own reliable mechanism to find out the exact crop size and production instead of just relying on the reports being given by the sugar mills to assess the situation and formulate policies,” he added.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, said “We have been requesting the government to provide remunerative prices for sugarcane for the last several years but the increase in the SAP has been insufficient. Even last year, we demanded Rs 500 a quintal but to no avail. Due to insufficient hike in sugarcane, the area under sugarcane is reducing. The government should increase the SAP of sugarcane, and it will motivate the farmers to increase the area under sugarcane and it will eventually help in stabilising the sugar prices.”
VK Singh, unit head of Naraingarh Sugar Mills, said “It has been observed that the sugarcane farmers have started shifting to other crops including Poplar and maize, and a number of farmers have also started diverting the sugarcane to crushers as they offer higher prices. Besides this, a drop in yield last year also affected the sugar mills’ production. As per a survey conducted, around 22,000 acres are under sugarcane, against around 24,000-acre last year under the Naraingarh Sugar Mills. Though there is some fall in the area, a good yield will cover the gap. If the SAP of sugarcane is increased, we are hopeful that the farmers will increase the area and deliver more to the mills.”
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Source : The Tribune
