Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Punjab Sugar Mills Face Severe Cane Shortage
Punjab's sugar mills are having a tough time this year.
They don't have enough workers to harvest sugarcane, and the amount of cane they're getting is much less than usual.
This is because fewer workers from other states are coming to help, and the cane plants aren't growing as well as they used to.
Farmers are also growing less cane because it's not as profitable as other crops.
Because of all these problems, the sugar mills might have to close earlier than usual this year.
Punjab sugar mills face a severe sugarcane supply shortage due to a 35–40% decline in labour availability.
Cane yields have dropped to 200–225 quintals per acre, significantly lower than previous years.
The area under sugarcane cultivation has declined to 88,000–95,000 hectares from nearly 1 lakh hectares.
Migrant labour from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has decreased by 40%, exacerbating the supply crunch.
Most sugar mills are operating below capacity and are expected to close earlier than usual.
- Who
- Punjab sugar mills and farmers
- What
- Severe sugarcane supply shortage due to labour scarcity, lower yields, and reduced cultivation area
- When
- During the 2025 crushing season
- Where
- Punjab, India
- Why
- Acute labour shortage, lower cane yields, and shrinking area under sugarcane cultivation
- Labour Shortage
- 35–40% decline in availability
- Cane Yields
- Dropped to 200–225 quintals per acre
- Area Under Cultivation
- Declined to 88,000–95,000 hectares
- Migrant Labour
- 40% of labourers did not return
- Crushing Season
- Expected to end earlier than usual