Jalandhar: Farmers in Punjab have warned of launching a state-wide protest from November 21 if the government fails to raise the state advised price (SAP) of sugarcane to Rs. 500 per quintal.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, farmer leaders said they would wait for two weeks for the government’s response before beginning the agitation. They argued that rising input costs have reduced their earnings, making a price revision essential.
Both the Centre and state governments fix sugarcane prices every year, similar to the minimum support price (MSP) system for paddy and wheat. The Centre has set the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane at Rs. 355 per quintal for the current fiscal year. In Punjab, the SAP currently stands at Rs. 401 per quintal for early varieties and Rs. 391 per quintal for late varieties. The state had raised the SAP by Rs. 11 per quintal in November last year.
Farmer unions say the current rates are insufficient to cover increasing expenses on labour, fuel, and fertilisers, putting their livelihoods at risk.
“If our demand is not accepted, we will block highways and railway tracks from November 21,” said Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai.
Rai added that a memorandum would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday and that farmers would stage a protest outside the DC office on November 18. The farmers have also urged the government to ensure the release of Rs. 22 crore pending with the Phagwara Sugar Mill.
