Around 87% of sugarcane dues for the ongoing 2024–25 sugar season have been cleared, according to the government. As of April 28, sugar mills have paid Rs.85,094 crore out of the total payable amount of Rs.97,270 crore to farmers.
Nearly all dues from the previous sugar season have also been settled. During the 2023–24 season, Rs.1,11,703 crore, or 99.92% of the total Rs.1,11,782 crore, had been disbursed by the same date.
The government has also increased the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the upcoming 2025–26 sugar season, which runs from October to September. The FRP has been raised by Rs.15 per quintal, bringing it to Rs.355 per quintal from the current Rs.340, based on a 10.25% basic sugar recovery rate.
The sugar sector is a critical agro-based industry that supports the livelihoods of nearly five crore sugarcane farmers and their families. It also directly employs around five lakh workers in sugar mills, in addition to thousands engaged in ancillary sectors such as farm labour and transportation.
Meanwhile, sugar mills are also urging the government for an increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar, citing rising operational and procurement costs.
