The government has increased the sugarcane price for the current fiscal year. It announced the new price, which includes an increase of Rs 20 per quintal from last year’s price, bringing the price to Rs 585 per quintal.
However, the Sugarcane Farmers’ Association has expressed concerns, stating that the price increase does not reflect the overall rise in commodity prices. This has led to growing frustration among farmers, according to the association. Naresh Singh Kushwaha, the district president of the association, mentioned that the government did not consult with sugar producers or sugarcane farmers when determining the new price.
Sugarcane is the one of largest commercial cash crops cultivated in Nepal, but issues of non-payment by sugar producers have been making headlines for decades. Due to the increasing non-payment problem, farmers have begun switching to other crops.