Yogi Adityanath govt in UP raises sugarcane price by Rs 20 per quintal

The Uttar Pradesh government has hiked the state advised price (SAP) for sugarcane by Rs 20 per quintal on Thursday in an effort to gain support from sugarcane farmers in the state ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Minister for Sugar Industry and Cane Development Department, informed reporters that the price of cane has been hiked by Rs 20 per quintal. The early type will now cost Rs 370 per quintal, while the common variety will be priced at Rs 360.

Previously, the purchasing price of the early type of sugarcane was Rs 350 per quintal, while the common variety was Rs 340 per quintal.

These rates took effect when the government raised the SAP of sugarcane by Rs 25 per quintal ahead of the 2022 state assembly election.

This year's general elections are expected to take place in April and May.

Aside from the fair and remunerative price (FRP) declared by the Union government for the crop, SAP is determined by the governments of sugar producing states based on production costs in specific regions.

According to Chaudhary, the Adityanath government has increased the price of cane by Rs 55 per quintal over the last six years.

He stated that the cane price in 2017 was Rs 315 per quintal, and that sugar factories in the state were on the edge of shutdown under the previous government.

In UP, he said, 42 lakh families and 45 lakh labourers are engaged in sugarcane cultivation.