Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed farmers on Thursday, thanking them for their support after the state government increased the sugarcane price by ₹30 for the 2025-26 crushing season. During the interaction, CM Yogi highlighted several steps taken by his government to benefit farmers, marking a significant improvement in the state’s agricultural sector over the past eight and a half years.
PM Modi’s Initiatives Benefiting Farmers
CM Yogi began by emphasizing that with the formation of the Modi government in 2014, farmers’ welfare was finally included in the national policy agenda. He mentioned that earlier, the health of the soil, from which crops grow, was largely ignored, but under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, measures such as the Soil Health Card were introduced to address this issue. He also noted that PM Kisan Samman Nidhi had helped farmers escape the clutches of moneylenders.
Promises Kept: Loan Waiver and Irrigation Expansion
Yogi reiterated that one of the first promises made by his government was the loan waiver for 86 lakh farmers, which was fulfilled immediately after assuming office in 2017. Since then, an additional 23 lakh hectares of land had been brought under irrigation. The CM stressed that earlier, while farmers worked hard, the profits were reaped by middlemen. His government changed this system, allowing farmers to sell directly to mills, ensuring their payments were transferred directly to their bank accounts.
Sugar Mills Revival and Investment in Sugarcane Sector
The CM also discussed the revival of the state’s sugar mills, many of which had either shut down or were being sold off under previous governments. Today, under the current administration, four new sugar mills have been established, six closed mills have reopened, and 42 mills have expanded their production capacities. With the inclusion of two mills featuring CBG plants, a total of 122 sugar mills are now operational across the state.
Impressive Financial Growth: Record Payments to Farmers
Yogi also pointed out the substantial increase in sugarcane price payments under his government. While previous governments paid ₹1,47,346 crore between 2007 and 2017, his government has paid a record ₹2,90,225 crore in just over eight years. This is an increase of ₹1,42,879 crore over the last decade, ensuring farmers received fair compensation for their produce.
Technological Innovations to Empower Farmers
The CM also spoke about the shift to a fully digital ‘Smart Sugarcane Farmer System’, where the traditional system of paper-based sugarcane slips has been replaced with mobile-based tickets, reducing middlemen’s influence. Through this innovation, farmers are now able to track their transactions more easily and receive prompt payments.
Employment Opportunities for Millions
The sugar mills alone provide employment to over 10 lakh families, and the government continues to promote the growth of other associated industries such as ethanol plants and distilleries. In addition, investments are pouring into the sugarcane sector, transforming it into a year-round industry rather than just a seasonal one.
Gratitude from Farmers for Yogi’s Leadership
Farmers expressed their gratitude for the government’s efforts. Progressive farmer Santosh Vajpayee remarked that under CM Yogi’s leadership, the issue of sugarcane slip delays had been resolved, and now, farmers receive slips directly on their mobile phones. Other farmers, such as Heera Singh Mathura, praised the decision to raise the sugarcane price and compared the current administration favorably with past governments.
A Vision for Prosperity
Farmers like Ramniwas Yadav and Gurdat Singh stated that CM Yogi’s policies had substantially increased sugarcane prices and improved the livelihoods of many farmers. Singh noted that, under the current government, it is impossible for anyone to steal a farmer’s crop, and the mood among farmers has never been better.
CM Yogi assured that the recent decisions would help lead Uttar Pradesh’s sugarcane farmers towards greater prosperity, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the agricultural sector. The state’s move to increase sugarcane prices and revitalize the industry has been seen as a significant step towards improving the lives of farmers and boosting the state’s economy.
