RAUTAHAT, Dec 28: Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Agriculture have agreed to fix the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 531 and recommend the same to the cabinet.

The ministries fixed the price after sugarcane farmers and mill owners failed to reach to a conclusion on the minimum support price.

The government will formally fix the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 531 once the cabinet endorses the recommendation of the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, farmers of Sarlahi have requested sugar mills to begin crushing canes at the earliest. A meeting of farmers held on Sunday has decided to request the sugar mills to start crushing by making advance payment of Rs 517 per quintal to farmers. 

Bed Bahadur Budhathoki, president of a pressure group formed by local farmers, said they will request local mills to make advance payment of Rs 517 per quintal to farmers and implement the minimum support price fixed by the government later on.

Jhamak Kumar Thapa, a farmer from Dhungrekhola, urged sugar mills to begin crushing as their canes could dry up in field itself. 

Farmers and sugar producers have failed to fix the minimum price despite holding five rounds of meetings. While farmers have demanded the mills to pay Rs 556 per quintal, mill owners say they cannot pay farmers more than Rs 513 per quintal.

 
• ministry of industry
 
• ministry of agriculture
 
• sugarcane