Pilibhit: Around 50 days into the 2025–26 sugarcane crushing season, farmers in Pilibhit district are facing unpaid cane dues exceeding Rs 220.2 crore, according to official records of the district cane department released on Sunday, reported The Times of India.
Pilibhit has four operational sugar mills, including two cooperative mills and two privately owned units. Payments to farmers, however, have remained poor across most mills.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane (Regulation of Supply and Purchase) Act, sugar mills are required to clear cane payments within 14 days of procurement. Delays attract interest for the overdue period. To ensure timely payments, the state sugarcane administration has mandated that 85 per cent of the sale value of sugar stocks and by-products such as molasses, bagasse, press mud and ethanol be earmarked for cane payments.
Commenting on the delay, district cane officer KR Bhargav said action against the mill and its management would be initiated once instructions are received from higher authorities at the state level.
Farmer leaders criticised the state government over the growing arrears. Rashtriya Kisan Majdoor Sangathan national convener VM Singh and Bhartiya Kisan Union youth wing district president Gurdeep Singh said the administration had failed to protect farmers’ legal rights. They alleged that government policies continued to favour mill owners, while cane growers were left to suffer due to delayed payments.
