Haryana farmers demand sugarcane price of ₹600 per quintal, threaten to gherao CM's residence

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has demanded that the Haryana government fix the sugarcane price at ₹600 per quintal, warning of a statewide agitation if the demand is not accepted. The farmers' organisation has also announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's residence in Kurukshetra on December 2.

The warning was issued at a mahapanchayat held outside the Sonepat Cooperative Sugar Mill on Thursday, where representatives of several farmer organisations gathered to demand a substantial increase in the state's advised price (SAP) of sugarcane.

The protesters submitted a memorandum listing their demands to the sugar mill director amid sloganeering. The meeting was presided over by farmer leader Rajendra Kohla.

Farmers reject sugarcane price hike

The SKM said the price increases announced by the state government were inadequate, particularly in view of rising agricultural input costs and the growing financial burden on sugarcane cultivators.

Haryana had previously fixed the sugarcane price at ₹415 per quintal. The state government subsequently raised it to ₹430 per quintal for the 2026-27 crushing season and announced a further increase to ₹450 per quintal for the 2027-28 season.

The proposed revisions represent a cumulative increase of only ₹35 per quintal over two years, which farmer leaders described as insufficient. They argued that the returns offered to growers did not adequately compensate for the rising costs of cultivation.

Farmer leaders have also pointed to the disparity between the price received by sugarcane growers and the market price of sugar. They have argued that while sugar and ethanol industries continue to benefit, farmers are struggling to recover their production costs.

Statewide agitation planned

As part of its protest strategy, the SKM has announced seven mahapanchayats across Haryana before November 26, followed by another series of seven gatherings in the subsequent phase.

Separately, farmer organisations have planned tractor rallies outside sugar mills in Sonepat, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Naraingarh, Jind, Rohtak and Indri between November 12 and 27 to mobilise support for the demand.

The farmers have warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to address their concerns. They have given the state government until December 1 to accept their demand, failing which they will surround the Chief Minister's residence in Kurukshetra on December 2.

Several farmer leaders address mahapanchayat

Several prominent farmer representatives and activists addressed the gathering, including Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) state president Ratan Mann, Kisan Mazdoor Union leader Suresh Koth and Joginder Singh Nain of BKU (Ghasi Ram Nain).

Others who spoke included Ishwar Singh Dahiya of the All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan, Sumit Dalal of the All India Kisan Sabha, Ishwar Singh Rathi, Virendra Pahal, Sushila Khasa, advocate Kapil Dev and Comrade Shraddhanand Solanki.

The leaders reiterated that the government would face a massive statewide agitation if it failed to meet their demand for a sugarcane price of ₹600 per quintal. They maintained that farmers would continue to mobilise across the state until the government announced a more remunerative price.