The government on Thursday increased the statutory minimum price (SMP) for sugarcane by over 32 per cent to Rs 107.76 per quintal for the 2009-10 sugar season. SMP is the minimum price that sugar mills have to pay for purchasing sugarcane from farmers.

Sugar season runs from October to September. In 2008-09 the SMP was Rs 81.18 per quintal. Above this guaranteed price, farmers will also get a premium for additional recovery above 9.5 per cent.