Haryana revises sugarcane SAP

Taking cognizance of the resentment of farmers over the low sugarcane price, Haryana has revised the SAP (state advised price) of sugarcane. Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, presiding over a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board in Chandigarh on Tuesday, announced to give the country’s highest ever price of sugarcane to the farmers of Haryana for the year 2009-10, which would be Rs 185 per quintal for early varieties, Rs 180 per quintal for mid varieties and Rs 175 per quintal for late maturing varieties. He also announced to further enhance the cane price for 2010-11 and it would be Rs 210, Rs 205 and Rs 200 for early, mid and late varieties respectively.

The acreage of sugarcane in Haryana plummeted from 1.40 lakh hectares in 2007-08 to .090 lakh hectares in 2008-09 and further to .75 lakh hectares (estimated) in 2009-10.

The better remuneration for paddy and wheat was the primary reason behind this trend. This affected the crushing capacity of the sugar mills pushing them into losses. The attention of the state government towards sugarcane producers might help to restore the health of the industry dependent on sugarcane.