On the eve of Diwali, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made a significant announcement for sugarcane farmers, declaring an increase in the State Advised Price (SAP) — now the highest in India.
Under the revised rates, the price for early variety sugarcane has been raised from Rs 400 to Rs 415 per quintal, while the rate for the late variety has increased from Rs 393 to Rs 408 per quintal. The Chief Minister described the move as a tribute to the unwavering hard work and dedication of the farming community.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to farmer welfare, CM Saini stated, “By offering sugarcane growers the highest support price in the country, we aim to bring prosperity and happiness to their lives. This decision will make the festival of Diwali even sweeter.”
The Chief Minister noted that the increase would provide a major boost to Haryana’s agricultural economy and enhance farmers’ income. Experts have lauded the decision, viewing it as a progressive step that will not only benefit sugarcane cultivators but also set a benchmark for other states to follow.
Importantly, in Uttar Pradesh, the country's largest sugarcane producing state, the SAP for early maturing varieties of sugarcane was ₹370 per quintal for the last two crushing seasons: 2023-2024 and 2024-25. In the last seven crushing seasons, the SAP for sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh has been increased only three times, while the price has been frozen four times. The Haryana government's decision to increase the SAP for sugarcane to ₹415 per quintal for the current season (2025-26) has created a significant difference of ₹45 per quintal between the prices received by farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. However, the sugar recovery rate in Haryana's sugarcane is lower than in Uttar Pradesh. This could lead to increased resentment among sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, and pressure will mount on the state government to increase the SAP. However, there seems to be no possibility of bridging the gap in the SAP of sugarcane between Haryana and Punjab compared to Uttar Pradesh. Punjab had fixed the SAP for sugarcane at ₹401 per quintal for the previous season. In the current year, the sugarcane area in Uttar Pradesh has decreased by about 50 thousand hectares compared to last year, which is an indication of the decreasing inclination towards sugarcane crop among the farmers here.