sugarcane: UP govt raises sugarcane prices by Rs 20 per quintal

The Uttar Pradesh government increased sugarcane prices by ₹20 per quintal on Thursday, a move that will benefit the influential voter bloc of sugarcane farmers in the state ahead of the general elections.

While the 2023-24 crushing season started in October, the government has determined the state advisory price (SAP) only now, increasing the price of early maturing variety of sugarcane to 370 per quintal from 350, with the price of common varieties being increased to 360 per quintal and that of unsuitable varieties to 355 per quintal.

The state government had last increased prices in 2021, ahead of the 2022 assembly elections, after a gap of four years. The Yogi Adityanath government has increased cane prices thrice in its nearly seven years in office by a total of 55 per quintal or 17.5%. About 4.2 million farmers in UP are engaged in sugarcane farming, along with 4.5 million labourers. The latest increase impacts the electorally crucial Jat community.