The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major gift for the state’s sugarcane farmers. The Chief Minister has approved an increase in cane prices — the early variety will now fetch ₹400 per quintal, while the common variety will be priced at ₹390 per quintal. This ₹30 per quintal hike is expected to provide farmers with an additional benefit of around ₹3,000 crore, significantly boosting their income.
Record Payments to Farmers
According to the official statement, the Yogi government has increased the sugarcane price four times since 2017. As a result, sugarcane farmers have received record payments of ₹2,90,225 crore in the past eight and a half years, which is ₹1,42,879 crore more than the payments made during the previous governments’ 10-year period.
Investment and Revival in the Sugar Industry
Under the current administration, four new sugar mills have been established, and six closed mills have been revived, attracting an investment of ₹12,000 crore in the sugar industry. The ‘Smart Ganna Kisan’ system has made cane slips fully digital, ending the dominance of middlemen and ensuring direct payments to farmers via DBT. Uttar Pradesh now ranks first in the country in both ethanol production and sugarcane cultivation area.
Consistent Focus on Farmer Welfare
It is noteworthy that sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh had been demanding a price hike for several months. Following Haryana’s recent price increase, the demand gained momentum in UP as well. The last major revision came during the 2021–22 crushing season, when prices were raised by ₹25 per quintal ahead of the Assembly elections. In the 2023–24 season, another ₹20 hike brought the rate for early cane to ₹370 per quintal.
Support Beyond Cane — Fertilizer Subsidy Boost
Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the Union Cabinet had approved Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for phosphatic and potassic fertilizers for the Rabi season 2025–26 (October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026). With a budget allocation of ₹37,952.29 crore, up ₹736 crore from the Kharif 2025 season, this move ensures timely and affordable access to quality fertilizers like DAP and NPKS grades for farmers across the country.
