Sugarcane gets sweeter: UP announces record Rs 30 hike per quintal in SAP for 2025–26 season; highest hike since 2017

LUCKNOW: In a major farmer centric measure, the state government on Wednesday raised the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugar cane by Rs 30 per quintal for the upcoming 2025-26 cane crushing season.With this, the SAP for common and upgraded variety will stand raised to Rs 390 and Rs 400 per quintal. Importantly, this is the highest ever increase in SAP since the Yogi Adityanath government came to power in 2017. In total, the state government has raised the SAP by Rs 85 since 2017.Coming months ahead of the panchayat elections due next year, the decision could potentially help the ruling BJP build the poll groundswell especially in the rural precincts of west UP region which has a high concentration of cane growers and the mills.Announcing the decision, cane minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary said that the increase would benefit approximately 46 lakh farmers besides lending the much push to state government bid in further increasing sugar production. UP happens to be the biggest producer of sugar in the country.“The Uttar Pradesh government has upheld the sweetness of sugarcane and the hard work of farmers! Thanks to the Chief Minister!” union minister and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary posted on X account.