Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Sugarcane Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary on Friday said that investments worth Rs. 6,924 crore in the past eight years have given a major boost to Uttar Pradesh’s sugar industry. He was addressing the meeting held at the Sugarcane Research Council.
Chaudhary highlighted that the state now leads the country not only in sugarcane and sugar production but also in ethanol and molasses output.
Congratulating farmers, newly elected cooperative presidents, vice-presidents and representatives, the minister said the sugar industry and the sugarcane development department provide livelihood to nearly 46 lakh farmers and their 2.30 crore family members in Uttar Pradesh. He added that the sector also generates direct and indirect employment for about 10 lakh people, playing a vital role in sustaining the state’s rural economy.
Chaudhary said that cane payments worth Rs. 2,89,445 crore have been made to farmers over the past eight years, Rs. 75,925 crore more than the Rs. 2,13,520 crore paid in the preceding 22 years.
He also pointed out the rapid growth in ethanol production. Before 2017, annual ethanol output was limited to 42 crore litres. Today, the state produces 180 crore litres annually, supplied to oil companies for blending with petrol.
The minister said the cane department has introduced innovative measures, including the formation of 3,000 women’s self-help groups for sugarcane seedling production. Around 58,000 women are now producing 8–10 crore seedlings annually, creating new avenues of income and strengthening community participation.
