Farmers in Nawalparasi West have urged the government to immediately fix the minimum support price of sugarcane, citing the ongoing harvest season. While some farmers have begun harvesting, most await the price announcement.

Due to the delay, those who have already harvested are forced to sell their crops to the sugar and jaggery industries at the previous year’s rates.

Umesh Chandra Yadav, chair of the Sugarcane Producers Committee in Lumbini Province and chair of Pratappur Rural Municipality, criticised the government’s inaction. “The support price must be based on production costs,” Yadav said. “This year, we demand a minimum of Rs710 per quintal.”

The district is home to Lumbini Sugar Mill, Indira Sugar Mill, and Bagmati Khandsari Sugar Industry. However, delayed price announcements and irregular payments have pushed many farmers away from sugarcane farming.

This year, sugarcane production in the district is expected to reach around 2 million quintals. The area under cultivation has shrunk from 12,000 hectares in recent years to just 5,000 hectares.