Sugarcane farmers have staged a protest in Kathmandu, expressing bitter grief after the government slashed subsidies for sugarcane farming. Farmers from across the country gathered at Maitighar Mandala, carrying sugarcane stalks in a sit-in protest.
The government had been providing a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal to farmers. However, it recently reduced the amount by 50 percent—to Rs 35 per quintal. Instead of adjusting the subsidy in line with inflation, the government cut it, said Naresh Singh Kushwaha, president of the Sugarcane Producers Farmers Association, Mahottari.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had earlier submitted a proposal to the Council of Ministers to continue providing the Rs 70 subsidy, the same as last year. But on July 16, the Council of Ministers decided to provide only Rs 35 per quintal. Ministry sources said that only the Cabinet has the authority to revise this decision and restore the subsidy to Rs 70 as demanded by the farmers.
The government cited budget shortages as the reason for halving the subsidy. In fiscal year 2024/25, 21m quintals of sugarcane were purchased from farmers by 13 sugar mills across the country. Farmers should have received Rs 15.15m in subsidies at the rate of Rs 70 per quintal. But since they did not, sugarcane farmers have launched a Kathmandu-centered movement, said Chairperson Kushwaha.
Sugarcane farmers from the Tarai-Madhes region have traveled from their villages to Kathmandu to lead the protest and demonstration. Rampujan Mahato, a farmer from Mahottari, said they will not leave the streets until the government agrees to provide the Rs 70 per quintal subsidy.
Mahashankar Thing, central member of the Nepal Sugarcane Producers Federation, said that after their district-level protests were ignored, farmers have come to Kathmandu for a decisive movement. “We will hold a Kathmandu-centered movement for seven days. During this time, we will surround the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, Parliament House in Baneshwor, Singha Durbar, and the President’s residence in Maharajgunj with our demands. If these actions do not address our concerns, we will launch an even tougher struggle,” he said.
Under the leadership of the Sugarcane Producers Federation, farmers from Tarai-Madhes have brought sugarcane stalks to Kathmandu. On Sunday, they staged demonstrations from the cowshed area to Maitighar Mandala and Baneshwor Chowk, chanting slogans.
According to Shyambabu Ray, coordinator of the Central Sugarcane Struggle Committee, sugar industries have already paid farmers Rs 585 per quintal. However, the government has failed to deliver the Rs 70 per quintal subsidy. “Last year, the government and industrialists fixed the sugarcane rate without involving farmers’ representatives. Cutting the subsidy now is an insult to our hard work. Industrialists are making sugar from cane we sold on credit, while the government has denied us the support it promised. This is injustice to farmers,” said Ray.
Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari has also discussed the matter with Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal regarding the farmers’ blockade, according to Ray. During a meeting with the protesting farmers, Minister Adhikari said the issue would be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting. He proposed forming a negotiation committee to discuss the matter further, and the farmers expressed their willingness to seek a solution through dialogue.
