Shahjahanpur, UP – September 12, 2025:
Uttar Pradesh’s sugar industry has attracted investments of ₹6,924 crore in the past eight years, giving a strong push to the sector, according to State Sugarcane Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary.
Speaking at a meeting of the Sugarcane Research Council, Chaudhary said UP now leads the country in producing not just sugarcane and sugar, but also ethanol and molasses.
He praised the hard work of farmers and cooperative leaders, noting that the sugar sector supports nearly 46 lakh farmers and their 2.3 crore family members. It also creates jobs for about 10 lakh people, making it a key part of the state’s rural economy.
Chaudhary highlighted that in the last eight years, farmers have received cane payments totaling ₹2.89 lakh crore — significantly more than the ₹2.13 lakh crore paid out in the 22 years before that.
Ethanol production in the state has also surged. Before 2017, UP produced just 42 crore litres a year. Now, that figure stands at 180 crore litres, much of which is used for blending with petrol.
The minister also shared how the government is promoting innovation in the sector. One such move is the creation of 3,000 women’s self-help groups focused on growing sugarcane seedlings. Around 58,000 women are now producing 8–10 crore seedlings each year, opening up new income opportunities and increasing community involvement.
