The festive season is here. Diwali preparations are going on in full swing in every home, but rising sugar prices in this sweet-filled festival can ruin a common man’s budget. In just six days, the price of sugar has increased by 13 to 17 percent in major states of the country. In this season, there is a huge demand for sugar from household to sweets, but the supply in the market remains very low. This mismatch of supply and demand has led to such a huge jump in prices.

Prices are sky high from UP to Maharashtra

As for Uttar Pradesh, the ex-mill rate, which was Rs 4,600 per quintal on October 6, has increased by 13 per cent to Rs 5,200 as on October 12. As reported by Hindustan Times, the situation is exactly the same in Maharashtra. There has been a huge jump in sugar prices by 17 percent. In Maharashtra, its price has gone up to Rs 5,100 per quintal. Local traders clearly say that compared to the demand of the festivals, the goods are less in the market.

Why is there such a huge shortage in the market?

Agricultural expert G.K. According to Sood, currently there is not enough sugar available in the country. An additional 3 lakh tonnes of sugar was unloaded to relieve the market, but it did not help much. Apart from this, strict restrictions on stock accumulation have also adversely affected trade. Usually sugar mills start crushing earlier every year, but this time it could not happen. In major producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, the sugarcane crop is not yet fully ready for harvesting. For this reason, there is a long delay in bringing new sugars to the market.

What was the impact of the government’s big move?

The central government has also taken many important steps to overcome this crisis of sugar. The government has allowed duty free import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar to increase supply in the market. Also a strict stock limit has been imposed on the dealers. Wholesale consumers have also been banned from buying sugar directly from the open market to curb any hoarding. Despite all these restrictions, the government does not seem to be getting any relief now. A government official told Hindustan Times that the government fears another big jump in prices before Diwali.

The matter is complicated by the new demands of the farmers

On the one hand, the price of sugar in the market is continuously increasing, on the other hand, the sugarcane farmers are also making a lot of noise regarding their demands. Farmers argue that since the cost of production has increased significantly, sugarcane prices should also increase. Their biggest demand is the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar which is currently Rs. 31 per kg, directly increasing it to Rs. 50 per kg.

To resolve this issue, a marathon meeting was held on 12 October in Pusa Campus, Delhi. In which 80 to 90 representatives of various farmers organizations including Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Food Minister Prahlad Joshi participated. After this conversation which lasted for about three hours, the central government has decided that a high-level joint committee will be formed within a week. The committee will listen to the concerns of farmers especially from Maharashtra and Karnataka. The new season of 2026-27 has started from 1 October. In such a situation, if the new demands of the farmers are accepted, the consumers may have to buy more expensive sugar in the coming days.