The government on Monday finalized the new price and subsidy rate for sugarcane, and farmers in Mahottari have expressed partial satisfaction. Although the rate is lower than their demand, they say it is still an improvement compared to last year.
Naresh Singh Kushwaha, Chair of the Sugarcane Producers Association Mahottari, said farmers had demanded Rs 750 per quintal due to rising production costs and increased prices of essential goods. “But the government set only Rs 690, including subsidy,” he said. The new price includes Rs 620 per quintal paid by sugar mills and Rs 70 subsidy from the government, totaling Rs 690. This is Rs 70 more than last year.
At present, farmers are waiting for the sugar mills to start operations soon so that they can harvest khutti sugarcane (second-year crop) and plant other crops on time. “If the harvest is delayed, farmland will remain unused for six months,” said Arun Giri of Bhangaha–4. Farmers must harvest khutti sugarcane and sow the next crop by the third week of Poush.
If they miss that window, farmers must wait until Asar for the monsoon rains, said Ramvinod Mahato of Bardibas–9. “That’s why we’re in a hurry to cut khutti sugarcane.”
Every year, sugarcane farmers and their associations demand that the government fix prices before the end of Kartik and open khutti sugarcane crushing by the second week of Mangsir. Instead, the government often delays the pricing, leaving farmers with little choice but to accept what is offered, said farmer Bishwanath Singh of Bardibas–12.
Still, farmers say this year’s increase is better than previous years. “The government raised the sugarcane price by Rs 35 and subsidy by Rs 35. Overall, Rs 70 more per quintal than last year,” Kushwaha said. Last year, the government had fixed Rs 585 per quintal and Rs 35 subsidy.
Meanwhile, the Everest Sugar and Chemical Industry in Gaushala–1, Mahottari, has not yet started operations, worrying farmers who need immediate crushing. The industry says it will conduct its annual ‘Dola Puja’ within Mangsir and begin crushing in the first week of Poush. Last year, crushing had started on Mangsir 26.
This year, sugarcane has been cultivated on 9,600 bighas in Mahottari—5,000 bighas of khutti and 4,600 bighas of mudan, according to Kushwaha.
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