Lucknow: Sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh have paid more than 94.86% of the sugarcane price for the 2025-26 crushing season, with 102 private sugar mills completing 100% payment of cane dues to farmers, according to the state government.
A state government spokesperson said 23 cooperative sugar mills have paid ₹2,820 crore to sugarcane farmers, while the three mills operated by the Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation have made payments of ₹543.51 crore. The government said Uttar Pradesh continues to account for the highest sugarcane price payments in the country.
According to the spokesperson, the Uttar Pradesh government has so far transferred ₹3.25 lakh crore in sugarcane price payments directly into farmers' bank accounts. During the ongoing 2025-26 crushing season, more than 94.86% of the total cane price has already been paid, while 102 sugar mills have cleared 100% of their sugarcane dues. 
The state government said these measures have contributed to an increase in the average income of sugarcane farmers, which has risen by ₹40,720 per hectare. The Sugar Industry and Cane Development Department said it has focused on timely cane payments along with increasing sugar and ethanol production.
Uttar Pradesh continues to rank among the leading states in sugarcane production and is also a major producer of molasses and ethanol. The government said the state has established new benchmarks in sugarcane development, farmer welfare and the broader sugar-ethanol sector.
The Cane Development Department also highlighted the growth in sugarcane crushing over the past nine years. Sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh crushed a record 9,220 lakh tonnes of sugarcane during the period, which was 3,052 lakh tonnes higher than the 6,168 lakh tonnes crushed during the preceding nine-year period.
