As the smoke began to rise from the chimneys of cooperative sugar mills across Haryana today, it carried a sense of economic relief for the state’s cane growers. The official notification of the ₹415/quintal SAP has positioned Haryana as the undisputed leader in farmer-centric pricing for the 2025-26 season.
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Competitive Pricing: By setting the rate at ₹415, Haryana has effectively “outbid” other major sugar-producing states. This move is seen as a strategic effort to support farmers in the face of soaring diesel, labor, and fertilizer costs.
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Economic Impact: Agricultural experts estimate that this hike will result in an additional collective income of approximately ₹300 crore for Haryana’s 2.5 lakh sugarcane-growing families. The government has also promised to ensure that payments are cleared within 14 days of crop delivery to the mills.
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Diversification Drive: During a ceremony at the Saraswati Sugar Mill, officials emphasized that the remunerative price is part of the ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’ campaign. By making sugarcane more profitable than wheat-paddy cycles, the state hopes to save groundwater in over-exploited blocks.
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Modernization of Mills: Alongside the price hike, the CM announced a ₹500 crore package for the modernization of cooperative sugar mills in Rohtak, Karnal, and Shahbad to improve recovery rates and reduce processing waste.
Community Sentiment
“We have been demanding ₹450, but ₹415 is a solid step and currently the best we can get in India. It shows the government is listening. Last year, our input costs were barely covered, but this hike gives us the confidence to invest more in better seeds and drip irrigation,” said a farmer representative in Yamunanagar.
