CHANDIGARH: In farmer-friendly decision, the Haryana government has increased the State Advised Price (SAP) of sugarcane by Rs.15 to Rs. 430 per quintal for the 2026-27 crushing season. It has also announced a further increase of Rs. 20 per quintal, taking the price to Rs. 450 for the 2027-28 season.
This will translate into a cumulative increase of Rs. 35 per quintal over two years. On the other hand the farmer unions have termed the increase inadequate and disappointing, arguing that it does not reflect the rise in agricultural input costs.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced an increase of Rs 35 per quintal in sugarcane prices over the next two years, providing significant financial relief to sugarcane growers in the state. Under the revised rates, farmers will receive Rs 430 per quintal in the 2026-27 season, and the price will increase to Rs 450 per quintal in 2027-28.
Saini said that said that during his recent interactions with various farmers’ organisations, farmers had raised concerns over the increasing cost of cultivation due to rising prices of diesel, labour and fertilisers. He said the decision to increase the sugarcane price to Rs 450 per quintal would help farmers offset the additional financial burden arising from higher input costs.
He added that the average sugarcane yield generally ranges between 700 and 800 quintals per hectare, equivalent to approximately 283 to 324 quintals per acre. At this level of production, the cumulative price increase of Rs 35 per quintal by 2027-28 is expected to provide farmers with additional income of approximately Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,300 per acre per season, compared with the 2025-26.
He said that the sugarcane price in Haryana was Rs 415 per quintal during the 2025-26 season. It will be increased by Rs 15 per quintal to Rs 430 in 2026-27, followed by a further increase of Rs 20 per quintal in 2027-28. As a result, the sugarcane price will rise by Rs 35 per quintal over two years.
Meanwhile, criticizing the state government for raising the price by such a small amount, Rakesh Bains, spokesperson for the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), said that an increase of Rs. 15 per quintal, equivalent to just 15 paise per kg, was insufficient to compensate farmers for the rising cost of cultivation. He said farmers had already demanded that the sugarcane price be increased to Rs. 600 per quintal.
Also expressing dissatisfaction with the announcement, Ratan Mann, president of the Haryana unit of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) pointed out that sugar prices were reaching Rs. 65-70 per kg, while the sugarcane price had been increased by just 15 paise per kg. He described the decision as unfair to farmers, particularly in view of rising cultivation costs, and called for the government to reconsider the revised price.
A shortage of sugarcane in the country has contributed to a decline in sugar production. To contain rising sugar prices, the Central Government has had to consider measures such as importing raw sugar and restricting the diversion of sugarcane juice and syrup for ethanol production.