The pigment accumulating potential of two strains of Anabaena was evaluated in the presence of various sugars (glucose, sucrose and jaggery), when incubated under light/darkness. Both strains exhibited excellent potential for phycocyanin (PC), phycoerythrin (PE) and total phycobiliproteins (PBS) production in light, in the presence of sugars. In terms of accumulation of % phycobiliproteins / proteins, Anabaena cylindrica (ATCC 29414) was observed to be more responsive to jaggery while sucrose and glucose were more stimulatory for Anabaena sp. (cyanobiont isolated from Azolla mexicana ). Significant enhancement in PC and PE content by supplementation with sugars emphasises the need for in-depth analysis of the interactions between assimilation of sugars and pigment production pathways in cyanobacteria.