Navjot Sidhu, Partap Singh Bajwa demand hike in advised price for sugarcane

Chandigarh, August 23

Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu today sought better state advised price (SAP) for sugarcane.

In a letter to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Bajwa has sought an increase in SAP for sugarcane to Rs 360 per quintal for the 2021-22 season. This would make sugarcane a sustainable crop for growers in the state, he said.

“The SAP has not seen an increase over the past four seasons (since 2017-18). It remains at Rs 310 per quintal,” said Bajwa. Neighbouring Haryana had announced Rs 358 per quintal for the 2021-22 season, while the PAU, Ludhiana, and Sugarfed had recommended Rs 350 per quintal keeping in mind the cost of cultivation, he observed.

Too meagre

The issue needs to be resolved amicably and immediately. The state advised price is too low as compared to Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab’s SAP should be better. —Navjot Singh Sidhu, PCC Chief

He praised the state government for releasing sugarcane payments of Rs 483 crore to growers, but said Rs 117.60 crore — Rs 54.96 crore towards cooperative mills and Rs 62.64 crore towards private mills — was still pending for the 2020-21 season, asking the government to pay the remaining dues.

Sidhu said: “The state assured price is too low as compared to Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand. As a torchbearer of agriculture, Punjab’s state advised price (SAP) should be better.” — TNS