Haridwar, Sept. 12 -- Farmer unions in Haridwar have demanded that the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane in the upcoming season be increased to Rs.500 per quintal, while also pushing for timely clearance of dues by sugar mills. District magistrate Mayur Dixit, after meeting a delegation of farmers under the banner of Uttarakhand Kisan Morcha in Roorkee on Wednesday evening, directed sugarcane department officials and mill managers to ensure immediate payment of outstanding dues. However, he clarified that any decision on revising the MSP falls under the jurisdiction of the state government. Despite the assurance, farmers said they would continue their ongoing sit-in protest outside the joint magistrate's office in Roorkee, which entered its 18th day on Thursday. "We had a fruitful discussion with the district magistrate, who assured sincere efforts to clear payments on time. But symbolically, we will continue our protest until the money is credited into farmers' bank accounts," said Uttarakhand Kisan Morcha president Gulshan Rod. Separately, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh renewed its demand that the state government hike the sugarcane MSP to Rs.500 per quintal for the 2025-26 season....