On Saturday, farmers in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, organized a protest demanding overdue payments for sugarcane and the reopening of the Majhola Cooperative Sugar Mill. City Magistrate Vijay Vardhan Tomar informed that payments from the Oswal factory, which has been closed for three years, will be made after the auction is completed. Additionally, farmers are awaiting payments from a Barkhera-based factory. The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association reported that India's sugar production has increased by 8% this season, totaling 274.8 lakh tons, with Uttar Pradesh contributing 89.26 lakh tons. However, sugar prices remain below production costs, with current ex-mill prices around ₹41-41.50 per kg, complicating timely payments to farmers. The association's Director General, Deepak Ballani, stated that sugar prices must increase to ensure mills can pay farmers on time, highlighting the need for a balance between the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane and sugar realizations.