Bhatinda: Sugar mills across India owe sugarcane farmers Rs 291 crore in unpaid dues over the past three years, with Rs 28 crore of this amount belonging to farmers in Punjab, according to Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya.
In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the minister shared figures showing that as of the ongoing 2024-25 sugar season (October 2024 to September 2025), total outstanding dues across 13 states stand at Rs 15,504 crore. Farmers in Punjab are owed Rs 751 crore. The pending payments from previous seasons were Rs 82 crore in 2021-22, including Rs 28 crore in Punjab, Rs 104 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 105 crore in 2023-24. No outstanding payments remain for Punjab farmers from the last two seasons, reports The Times of India.
The minister noted that the government has taken steps to reduce these overdue payments, leading to more than 99.9% of cane dues being cleared up to the 2023-24 sugar season. As of March 5, 2025, over 80% of the dues for the current season have already been paid.
During the Rajya Sabha session, members Vaiko and M. Shanmugam voiced concerns about the delay in payments and questioned why sugar mills have struggled to clear their dues on time. They also sought details on the government’s efforts to ensure timely payments and prevent future delays.
The government has introduced several measures to tackle the issue and ensure that payments to farmers are made without delay. The discussion in the Rajya Sabha highlights the continued focus on securing financial stability for sugarcane farmers and improving the payment process within the sugar industry.
Important News:
Mysuru: farmers protest outside CADA office demanding release of water
For more details and in-depth insights, keep reading ChiniMandi, your go-to source for the latest news on the Sugar and Allied Sectors
