Sugarcane cultivators in West Champaran district of Bihar took to the streets on Saturday, staging a vigorous protest to renew their long-standing demand for a significant increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for their crop. The demonstration, organized by members of the Bihar Ikh Kashatkar Sangh, highlighted the growing economic distress in the farming community.
March to Sub-Division Office with Key Demands
Carrying sugarcane stalks in their hands as symbols of their livelihood, a large group of farmers marched towards the Bagaha subdivision office. Their primary action was to submit a formal memorandum addressed to the sub-divisional officer, outlining their grievances. The farmers have declared their intention to escalate these demands to the level of the Chief Minister and senior officials of the sugarcane industry department if their immediate concerns are not addressed.
Leading the protest, Ramkumar Srivastava, also known as Chhote Srivastava, who serves as the secretary of the sugarcane farmers’ association, detailed their core demands. The key points include:
- Raising the sugarcane procurement price to Rs 500 per quintal.
- Expediting the ongoing procurement of paddy.
- Reducing the current diesel rates to lower cultivation costs.
- Installing government-operated weighbridges on mill premises to ensure complete transparency during the weighing process.
Unsustainable Cultivation and Regional Disparity
Srivastava emphasized that the current economic model for sugarcane farming has become untenable. He pointed out a stark regional disparity, noting that Bihar's official sugarcane price remains significantly lower than that of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. While Uttar Pradesh has achieved a rate of Rs 400 per quintal, Bihar's farmers are struggling with a lower return.
Compounding this price issue is the relentless rise in input costs. The expenses for essential items like diesel, fertilisers, pesticides, and electricity have soared, squeezing profit margins and making cultivation economically unviable at the current state-declared rate.
Phased Agitation and Official Price Fixation
The protest leaders have issued a clear warning to the state administration. "If the government does not accept the farmers’ demands, we will continue our protest in a phased manner," stated Srivastava. This indicates a potential escalation of the agitation in the coming days.
This discontent persists despite the Bagaha sugar mill having commenced its crushing operations for the current season. For the 2025-26 sugar season, the Bihar government has fixed the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane at Rs 355 per quintal. The vast gap between this official rate and the farmers' demand of Rs 500 continues to be the central flashpoint, fueling widespread anger and frustration among the agrarian community in the region.
