Punjab Sugarcane Crushing Season 2026-27: Rate Not Announced Yet, Grower Payment Guide

November is when Punjab’s sugarcane fields meet the mills, and this year growers are waiting on one missing number: the official cane rate. As of the latest reports, the Punjab Sugarcane Crushing Season 2026-27 rate has not been notified yet. Farmer groups demand Rs 700 per 40 kg, while last season’s Punjab average was around Rs 401 per 40 kg. Until the rate is announced, growers should focus on weighing slips and payment records.

Where the 2026-27 Rate Stands

• Not announced: According to the latest official announcement, the sugarcane price for the 2026-27 crushing season has not been notified yet, and mills usually start crushing in November.
• Last season benchmark: In the last season, 2025-26, Punjab sugar mills paid farmers an average of Rs 401 per 40 kg, up from Rs 387 the year before.
• Do not trust rumours: Rates shared on social media or by middlemen are not official, so wait for the provincial notification before treating any figure as final.
• Check the notification: When the rate is announced, it will come through the provincial government, so confirm it through official channels before delivering cane.

What Farmer Groups Are Asking For

• Rs 700 demand: Farmer bodies, including the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad and Kissan Bachao Tehreek, have demanded a sugarcane support price of Rs 700 per 40 kg.
• Crushing by 1 November: The same groups demanded that sugar mills commence crushing operations by 1 November, so standing crops are not left waiting.
• More cultivation: Farmer leaders stated that sugarcane cultivation registered a 21 percent increase this season, promising up to 30 percent higher sugar yield.
• Timely payment: The groups demanded strict government oversight to make sure mills pay growers in full and on time.
• Fair weighing: They also urged protection from arbitrary weight deductions and financial exploitation by mill owners.

The Crushing Start-Date Dispute

• July agreement: According to the latest official announcement, a July agreement between the federal government and the sugar mills association committed millers to begin crushing by 1 November.
• Punjab directive: Reports state that the Punjab government later directed mills to begin crushing on 15 November, to protect growers and stabilise prices.
• Court relief reported: Reports also state that mills secured court relief that temporarily blocked the directive, extending the deadline to 17 November.
• Mills’ reported plan: Internal meeting reports cited by the press suggested mills planned to begin crushing on 28 November, with a proposed cane rate of Rs 400 per 40 kg, but that figure is not an official notification.
• What it means: Your own mill’s start date can differ from the announced date, so confirm it before harvesting.

How Growers Can Protect Their Payment

• Keep the weighing slip: Keep every weighing slip safe, because it is your basic proof of how much cane you delivered.
• Check the weight: Check the weight shown on the slip at the time of delivery, and raise any deduction on the spot.
• Record the rate: Write down the rate, date and mill name for each delivery, so later payments can be matched delivery by delivery.
• Take payment in writing: Take the payment date and amount in writing where possible, instead of relying on verbal promises.
• Keep copies: Photograph or photocopy slips and receipts, because paper slips are easily lost during a long season.

What to Do If a Mill Delays Payment

• Ask in writing: First ask the mill in writing for the payment date, and keep a copy of your request.
• Contact the cane office: If payment is delayed, approach your district cane office or the Cane Commissioner’s office with your slips and records.
• Do not accept cuts silently: Unclear deductions should be questioned with the slip in hand, and any agreed cut should be written on the record.

Sugarcane and the Wheat Season Link

• Fields free up late: Fields still under cane only become free for wheat after crushing starts, which is why the crushing date matters for wheat growers too.
• Wheat sowing window: According to the latest official announcement, the wheat sowing window for irrigated areas across Punjab runs from 1 to 20 November.
• Certified seed: The Agriculture Department advises growers to complete sowing by 20 November using certified seed of approved varieties.
• Seed rate: The advised seed rate for irrigated areas is 40 to 45 kilograms per acre, with germination of at least 85 percent.
• Local advice: Soil, water and the previous crop vary by village, so consult your local agriculture experts on seed treatment and variety choice, and check the Agriculture Department portal at agripunjab.gov.pk for updates.

Conclusion

The Punjab sugarcane crushing season 2026-27 has begun without an officially notified rate, with farmers demanding Rs 700 per 40 kg against last season’s average of around Rs 401. The start date has been disputed, so growers should confirm their mill’s schedule, keep every weighing slip, and record each payment in writing. Once cane fields are free, wheat sowing should be completed by 20 November.

FAQs

Has the Punjab sugarcane rate for 2026-27 been announced? No, as of the latest reports the 2026-27 rate has not been notified yet.

What did Punjab mills pay last season? Around Rs 401 per 40 kg on average in the 2025-26 season.

What rate are farmers demanding? Farmer bodies have demanded Rs 700 per 40 kg, with crushing to start by 1 November.

By when must crushing legally start? Under the Sugar Factories Control Act, crushing should start not later than 30 November each year.