Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh have slammed the state government for not increasing the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane during the 2024-25 cane crushing season. Party called the decision a setback for farmers, who were hoping for a higher price to support their livelihoods.
SP, staged a unique form of protest during the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Budget session, criticizing the government’s decision not to raise the sugarcane price. On Wednesday, SP MLA Atul Pradhan arrived at the assembly on a bike, carrying sugarcane with him as a symbol of his protest. He criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for failing to meet its promises to farmers, specifically the long-demanded price hike for sugarcane.
Pradhan emphasized that the country cannot make significant progress until the condition of farmers improves. He demanded an immediate increase in the SAP to Rs 500 per quintal, urging the government to act in favor of farmers.
“जब तक किसानों की स्थिति ठीक नहीं होगी, तब तक देश प्रगति नहीं करेगा।”:- चौधरी चरण सिंह जी
किसानो की तरक़्क़ी में भाजपा सबसे बड़ी बाधक है और किसानो से जो भी वादे किये थे, एक भी पूरा नहीं किया गया ! गन्ना के मूल्य एक भी रुपया नहीं बढ़ा हैं ! हमारी इस सरकार से माँग है की जल्द से… pic.twitter.com/dw4MmpHppT
— Atul Pradhan (@atulpradhansp) February 19, 2025
Earlier, in January 2024, the UP government had raised the State Advisory Price (SAP) for all sugarcane varieties by Rs 20 per quintal. The SAP for early-maturing varieties was increased from Rs 350 to Rs 370 per quintal, for common varieties from Rs 340 to Rs 360, and for late-maturing varieties from Rs 335 to Rs 355 per quintal.
Sugar mill owners have recently voiced opposition to any price hike. They argue that while they make regular payments and operate their mills throughout the season, this year the recovery rate of sugar from cane is also low. Mill owners had warned that the any increase in price could affect their ability to make timely payments.
Recently, amid the expected increase in the SAP for the 2024-25 season, the UP Sugar Mills Association (UPSMA) raised concerns about a decline in sugar recovery, which would lead to higher production costs. In a letter to UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, the association highlighted the decline in recovery. The drop in sugar recovery compared to last year has significantly pushed up the cost of production.
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