SAP of sugarcane expected to be announced soon in Uttar Pradesh

05-Feb-2025 07:57 PM

The SAP (State Advisory Price) for sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh is expected to be announced soon, as the crushing season for 2024-25 has already been underway for about four months.

However, the state government has not yet set the SAP, which was initially expected to be decided during the last state cabinet meeting but was delayed.

Farmers are advocating for an increase in the SAP to at least Rs 400 per quintal, citing the SAP increases in other states like Punjab and Haryana, where the price is set at Rs 401 and Rs 400 per quintal, respectively.

In Uttar Pradesh, the SAP for the 2023-24 season was increased by Rs 20, bringing it to Rs 370 per quintal, but no announcement has been made for the current season.

Over the last seven years, the SAP in Uttar Pradesh has only been raised three times, by Rs 10, Rs 25, and Rs 20, totaling a Rs 55 increase, while there were no increases in four seasons.

The state's sugar mills argue against increasing the SAP, citing declining sugar recovery rates and rising production costs.

Additionally, the ex-factory minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar has remained unchanged for five years, further complicating the issue.

The decision on the SAP is likely to impact both farmers and the sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh as the state is a significant player in the nation's sugar production.