Chandigarh, Oct 30 Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said the BJP government’s decision to effect a “meagre increase” in sugarcane prices when the inflation rate is about to reach double digits is a cruel joke on farmers.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday announced an increase of Rs 35 per quintal in sugarcane prices over the next two years.
The sugarcane price in Haryana was Rs 415 per quintal during the 2025-26. Under the revised rates, prices will be increased by Rs 15 to Rs 430 per quintal in the 2026-27 season, and increased by a further Rs 20 to Rs 450 per quintal in 2027-28.
Hooda said during the Congress government’s tenure from 2005-2014, sugarcane prices saw a “historic increase”.
The price was raised from Rs 117 per quintal to Rs 310 per quintal, an increase of Rs 193. This translated to an average annual increase of approximately 18.3 per cent, Hooda said in a statement.
“In contrast, during the BJP government’s 12 years in power, the sugarcane price has increased by only Rs 120, from Rs 310 to Rs 430 per quintal, representing a total hike of just 39 per cent. This amounts to an average annual increase of only about 3.25 per cent,” he said.
He said the numbers closely show that the Congress government’s increase was six times greater than that of the BJP.
“When it comes to providing fair prices to farmers and ensuring price hikes, the BJP falls far short of the Congress,” he said.
Hooda alleged that just a few days ago, the BJP played “a cruel joke” on wheat farmers as well, by increasing the Minimum Support Price for wheat by only Rs 25 — that is, a mere 25 paise per kilogram — even as inflation continues to rise at an alarming rate under the BJP government.
“The prices of petrol, diesel, and gas are skyrocketing. Everything from agricultural equipment to fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and labour has become so expensive that farmers are being forced to abandon farming,” he alleged.
Hooda recalled that during the Congress government’s tenure, in the year 2006-07, the procurement price for wheat was raised from Rs 600 to Rs 850, an increase of Rs 250 at one go, besides an additional bonus of Rs 100.
(PTI News)
