Patna: Sugarcane farmers in Bihar are set to receive an additional Rs 10 per quintal on top of the fixed price for the 2024–25 crushing season, the state government announced on Wednesday. The scheme is expected to continue into the next financial year.
The announcement was made by Sugarcane Industry Minister Krishna Nandan Paswan during a state-level farmers’ conference at the B.M.E.T.I. auditorium in Patna. Paswan emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ interests and reviving closed sugar mills.
Speaking at the event, Sugarcane Commissioner Anil Jha highlighted a 50% subsidy being offered to farmers for agricultural equipment, certified sugarcane seeds, bud-chip and single-bud planting methods, and intercropping with crops such as lentils, mustard, and coriander.
The state is also providing incentives for the establishment of jaggery production units, with subsidies covering up to half of the capital cost. Jha noted that the Chief Minister’s Sugarcane Development Program—focused on certified seed distribution, intercropping, and bud-chip planting—is designed to lower production costs and boost farmers’ income.
Farmers were encouraged to use the ‘Ekh Mitra’ app to report problems directly to the department and to adopt four-foot row planting methods to increase sugarcane yield.
