A day before the cane crushing season begins, the state government today notified Rs300 per quintal as State Advised Price (SAP) for early varieties of sugarcane.

As for mid-season varieties, the price will be Rs290 per quintal and for late-season varieties, Rs285.

The difference in SAP will remain in effect till January 15. After that, all varieties will fetch equal price.

The government notified the price for different sugarcane varieties today evening after officers from the Cane Commissioner rushed to the Secretariat to get the notification issued.

The notification was issued two weeks after the Sugarcane Control Board, in its November 8 meeting, had approved the rates. Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, senior agricultural officials and representatives of private sugar mills were present at the meeting.

JS Bains, Director (Agriculture) and Cane Commissioner, said, “All mills will start crushing cane tomorrow. The government has notified the decision to enhance SAP from Rs295 per quintal last year to Rs300 for early varieties. The price will be equal after January 15.”

Last year, the government had fixed Rs295 per quintal. Private mill owners, however, had paid Rs245 to farmers, citing low market price of sugar. So, the government contributed the remaining cost (Rs50 per quintal), leading to an additional burden of more than Rs220 crore on the state exchequer. “This year, the government will not pay additional amount in lieu of cane crushed in private mills,” said Bains.