Mann hikes sugarcane price by `11 per quintal

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced a hike of Rs 11 per quintal in sugarcane price, saying the new rate of Rs 391 a quintal is the highest in the country. However, farmers said the appreciation in cane price is “too meagre” and termed the state government’s move as “betrayal”. The price hike came days after the chief minister assured farmers of “good news” in the coming days. “With an increase of Rs 11, the new rate will be Rs 391 per quintal, which will be the highest in the country,” Mann said in a post on social media platform X. According to an official statement issued later, Mann said in Punjab Rs 11 is considered as a ‘shagun’ (good omen) so his government has given this gift to the farmers.