Haryana farmers announce agitation from November 12 against sugarcane price hike
Terming the hike in sugarcane prices by the Haryana government as insufficient, farmer organizations have decided to launch a state-wide struggle from November 12. Farmers are demanding that the sugarcane price be fixed at Rs 600 per quintal.
Angered by the recent hike in sugarcane prices by the Haryana government, farmer organizations have announced a state-wide agitation starting from November 12. During a Mahapanchayat led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in Manglora village of Karnal district, farmers unanimously passed a resolution to launch an indefinite struggle over the demand to increase sugarcane prices.
Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Surinder Sangwan said that in the first phase of the agitation, tractor rallies will be held in front of sugar mills in Sonipat, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Naraingarh, Jind, Rohtak, and Indri from November 12 to November 27. He warned that if the government still does not increase the price, a Kisan Panchayat will be called on December 2 by gheraoing the Chief Minister's residence in Kurukshetra.
Bharatiya Kisan Union state president and Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader Ratan Mann said that the price of sugarcane should be made Rs 600 per quintal starting from the current season. He alleged that the sugar and ethanol industry are making huge profits while farmers are suffering heavy losses. Due to current policies, farmers are being forced to quit sugarcane cultivation.
Leading the Mahapanchayat, young farmer leader Jaswinder Manglora said that the expenses on fertilizers, seeds, medicines, diesel, labor, and irrigation are continuously increasing. He stated that an expense of Rs 80,000 to 90,000 is incurred on an acre of sugarcane, and the price fixed by the government does not even cover the cost of production.
On the other hand, a meeting of farmers associated with BKU (Charuni) was held at Jat Dharamshala in Kurukshetra. Farmer leader Gurnaam Singh Charuni said that a rally will be held on December 15 to get the sugarcane price raised to Rs 600, and if the government does not accept the demand, sugarcane harvesting will be stopped from January 2, 2027.
Notably, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had recently announced a total increase of Rs 35 per quintal in sugarcane prices over the next two years. The government has set a rate of Rs 430 for the year 2026-27 and Rs 450 per quintal for 2027-28, which farmer organizations have rejected, calling it a betrayal.
Key developments
- Farmer organizations will take out tractor rallies at sugar mills in Haryana from November 12 to 27.
- Announcement to gherao the Chief Minister's residence in Kurukshetra on December 2 if demands are not met.
- Farmers demanded the government rate of sugarcane to be Rs 600 per quintal.
- Ultimatum by BKU (Charuni) for a rally on December 15 and stopping harvesting from January 2, 2027.
