Timely payment to decide sugar mills’ command area: CM Yogi Adityanath

The meeting also featured a departmental presentation covering sugarcane payment status, productivity, infrastructure, employment and future plans.

A detailed review of sugarcane payment status revealed that during the present government’s tenure, Rs 2.85 lakh crore has been paid to farmers — Rs 72,474 crore more than the Rs 2.13 lakh crore paid between 1995 and 2017. For the 2024-25 season, out of the Rs 34,466.22 crore, Rs 28,873.55 crore (83.8%) had been disbursed as of May 2.

The CM directed that sugarcane productivity should be enhanced, underlining collaborative efforts from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, sugar mills and sugarcane committees.

He also called for regular field visits by mill representatives and officials, continuous engagement with farmers and active participation of ministers in farmer seminars, and underscored the need to further strengthen sugarcane committees.

Highlighting operational improvements, the CM instructed that working days should be increased to 155 from 142 at present. He also called for a comprehensive review of cooperative and federation sugar mills, including their production capacity and workforce qualifications.

Regarding regional expansion, it was reported that the sugarcane cultivation area grew from 20.54 lakh hectares in 2016-17 to 29.51 lakh hectares in 2024-25. During the same period, productivity rose from 72.38 tonnes/hectare to 84.10 tonnes/hectare.

It was claimed during the meeting that 122 sugar mills, 236 Khandsari units, 8,707 Kolhu units, 65 cogen units, and 44 distilleries operate across 45 districts in the state, collectively providing direct employment to 9.81 lakh individuals.