| Yogi govt transforms sugarcane farmers' lives, fixes past neglect | | |  Agencies
LUCKNOW, Apr 16: Relentless efforts by the Yogi Adityanath government have led to a remarkable turnaround for sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, with 65 lakh registered farmers - including 46.5 lakh suppliers - benefiting from pro-farmer schemes. This marks a sharp contrast to the neglect faced under previous Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress regimes.
Uttar Pradesh currently has 122 sugar mills operating across 45 districts, including 96 private mills, 23 cooperative mills, and 3 corporate sector mills. In addition, 285 Khandsari units and 65 Cogen units are functioning. Under the Yogi government's leadership, 52 mills have been modernized, significantly improving efficiency. Furthermore, ethanol production has been boosted, with a capacity of approximately 8,000 kiloliters per day. The sugar industry has provided direct and indirect employment to around 8.5 lakh people, further contributing to the state's economic growth.
When compared to the previous government's tenure in 2016-17, the Yogi government has made significant strides in the sugarcane sector. The area dedicated to sugarcane cultivation has increased by 43%, while productivity has grown by 16%, and production has surged by 68%. Today, Uttar Pradesh accounts for 49% of India's total sugarcane area, contributes 49% to national sugarcane production, and produces 33% of the country's sugar.
The Yogi government has also ensured an additional income of approximately Rs 1,200 crore for the state's sugarcane farmers, who are now leading the country in sugarcane production.
Under the current Yogi Adityanath-led government, over Rs 2.80 crore in sugarcane prices have been paid to farmers, which is approximately Rs 66 crore more than the total amount paid during the 22 years between 1995 and March 2017. In addition to this, the sugarcane sector has contributed Rs 1.09 lakh crore to the Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2024-25.
The government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's guidance, continues to provide support to sugarcane farmers through 158 cooperative sugarcane committees, 27 cooperative sugar mills, and 152 sugarcane development councils, ensuring their ongoing benefit.
During the rule of SP, BSP, and Congress governments, sugarcane farmers faced dire conditions. Payment for sugarcane prices was delayed, sugar mills were not modernized, and farmers struggled to receive fair prices for their produce, leading to a deteriorating economic situation.
In stark contrast, the Yogi government has implemented concrete measures to address the needs of sugarcane farmers, resulting in significant improvements in their livelihoods. These efforts have not only strengthened the economic condition of the farmers but have also made a considerable contribution to the state's economy. |
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