3 pc hike in state advisory price of sugarcane in UP

The Uttar Pradesh government has hiked state advisory price (SAP) of sugarcane for 2017-18 crushing season by about 3 per cent.
"The decision was taken by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The government has increased SAP by Rs 10 per quintal for different varieties of the crop," an official spokesman said here today.
The new prices for common variety has been fixed at Rs 315 per quintal against Rs 305 per quintal last year and the price of early maturing and unsuitable cane variety is now Rs 325 and Rs 310 per quintal respectively -- rates of both increased by Rs 10 per quintal.

It has also been decided that payment to farmers will be given in one instalment by the sugar mills.
Cane Development Minister Suresh Rana said that relaxation has also been given to farmers on transportation charges of sugar cane to mills.
He said cane growers will have extra Rs 1,060 crore income due to the government's decision.

Sugarcane is a major cash crop in UP where over 40 lakh rural households are engaged in cane farming.
Sugarcane is also a politically sensitive issue, especially in Western UP.
The state government this season is targetting sugar production of almost 10 million tonnes (MT), which would be 15 per cent higher compared to the output of nearly 8.75 MT clocked during 2016-17.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party, which is the main opposition party in the state termed the decision of hiking SAP by Rs 10 as "injustice with farmers".
"The state government had earlier befooled farmers in the name of loan waiver and now by increasing SAP by meagre of Rs 10 is injustice with them. This shows insensitiveness of the government towards cane growers," an SP spokesperson said.