The government on Thursday hiked the minimum selling price of sugar by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 31.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, considering the rising arrears of sugarcane growers, the food department has increased the MSP of sugar from Rs 29 per kilogram to Rs 31 per kilogram for the year 2018-19.

With this step, he said, the appropriate amount will be available to sugar mills, which will enable them to pay the sugarcane farmers on time.