MAHOTTARI: Although the government did not set the price of sugarcane as per the sugarcane farmers’ demand and expectations, the farmers in Mahottari district are satisfied with the new price because it is slightly higher than last fiscal year, 2024/25.

The government fixed the new price of sugarcane and subsidy amount for the sugarcane farmers for the ongoing fiscal year 2025/26 last Monday, as per which, the price of sugarcane is determined at Rs 690 per quintal.

“We had demanded Rs 750 per quintal considering the rising farming cost and inflation in daily consumable goods. But the government fixed it at only Rs 690 per quintal,” remarked Naresh Singh Kushwaha, Chairperson of Sugarcane Producers’ Farmers Association in Mahottari.

According to him, this year the combined price of sugarcane and subsidy has been raised by Rs 70 per quintal compared to the last year. The revised rate of the government puts the price of the sugar to be paid by the sugar mills at Rs 620 per quintal and Rs 70 to be granted by the government as a subsidy, making a total of Rs 690 per quintal.

Sugarcane is cultivated across 9,600 bighas of land in the district this year, informed Chairperson Kushwaha.

Farmers here are now waiting for the sugar mills to start operation so that sugarcane would be collected, added another farmer, Arun Giri of Bhangaha-4.

He shared they are currently under a huge pressure to harvest the second-year crop of the sugarcane and ready field for next round. He admitted, “We do not have time to complain to the government over the pricing of the sugarcane.”

He, however, worryingly voiced, “What is more pressing and concerning is that if we delay in cutting sugarcane plants and cultivating another crop, our farmland could remain barren for another six months.”

Another farmer Ram Binod Mahato of Bardibas-9 voiced similar concern.

“If we do not collect sugarcane by mid-January 2026 and plant another crops in that land, we must wait until monsoon next June. That is why we are in sheer hurry to collect the sugarcane,” Mahato said.

Sugarcane farmers suggest that the government should set the pricing of their produces by mid-November every year and begin the crushing of the second-year sugarcane by November end. “But the government always sets the price only at a time when farmers have no choice but to accept it,” said Bishwanath Singh of Bijalpura in Bardibas-12 with a frown.

However, he chimed in, “Despite discontentment over timing of the announcement of sugarcane price, the Rs 35 per-quintal increase in sugarcane prices this year has certainly brought elation to the farmers here.”

He further gushed, “This year, the government has increased the price of sugarcane by Rs 35 per quintal and announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal. Compared to the last year, this is quite good!”

As the government fixes the price of sugarcane for the year, the sugar mills in the district are starting their operations to crush the canes to produce sugar.

The Everest Sugar is gearing up to start sugarcane crushing by the end of this December, which is a couple of weeks later than last year.