Ambala: A group of farmers from Ambala and nearby areas met Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana in Chandigarh on Tuesday to highlight ongoing problems related to sugarcane pricing, fertiliser supply, and crop damage, reports The Tribune.
The delegation submitted memorandums seeking an increase in the price of sugarcane and a better supply of key fertilisers like DAP and urea. They also voiced concerns over administrative and technical challenges faced during crop registration.
Vinod Rana, president of the Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said the cost of growing sugarcane has risen sharply due to higher prices of insecticides, fuel, fertilisers, and labour. “We have asked the government to raise the state advised price (SAP) of sugarcane to ₹500 per quintal,” he said. “With rising input costs, many farmers are moving away from sugarcane, which could affect overall sugar production in the state.”
The delegation also urged the minister to transfer control of the Naraingarh Sugar Mills—currently a private unit managed under state supervision—to HAFED (Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation). According to the farmers, the minister responded positively and assured them of a decision soon.
Rana further pointed out that the existing government allocation of fertilisers is insufficient. “Farmers growing three crops—paddy, potatoes or mustard, and sugarcane or sunflower—are currently given two bags of DAP and six bags of urea per acre per year. We’ve requested an increase to four bags of DAP and 10 bags of urea,” he said. He added that agricultural universities also recommend higher doses of fertiliser for better yield in wheat crops.
Another major issue raised was the inability of some farmers to register their crops on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, a prerequisite for selling produce and availing of fertilisers.
Singara Singh, a farmer from Punjab who owns 43 acres in Samlehri village of Ambala, shared his concerns: “I’ve been cultivating this land for 26 years and have been registering my crops on the portal each year. But this year, the system isn’t allowing me to register, which means I can’t sell my produce or get fertilisers. I’ve requested the minister to fix this.”
Separately, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) has called on the Haryana government to conduct a survey of paddy crops hit by the southern rice black streaked dwarf virus and waterlogging. According to the union, farmers in Kurukshetra, Ambala, Karnal, Kaithal, Jind, Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak, and Yamunanagar have been affected.
Gurnam Singh Charuni, president of BKU (Charuni), said, “Farmers are helpless in dealing with this virus, and it’s likely to cause significant yield loss. Earlier, heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers submerged large tracts of paddy fields. We’ve sent a letter to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, urging the government to assess the damage and provide compensation.”
The farming community now awaits the government’s response to their demands and the promised actions.
