UP Sugarcane Crushing Season 2026-27 Begins at 9 Mills Ahead of Diwali, Farmers Await Price Hike

Key Highlights

• Sugarcane crushing for the 2026-27 season begins at nine UP mills.

• Eight private mills and one cooperative mill have started operations.

• 33 mills have issued sugarcane purchase indents, with 24 expected to start before Diwali.

• Sugarcane cultivation covers 28.14 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh.

• BKU demands a sugarcane price of ₹500 per quintal.

Uttar Pradesh has started its sugarcane crushing season for 2026-27 ahead of Diwali, bringing relief to millions of farmers across the state. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, nine sugar mills have already started commercial sugarcane crushing, while several others are preparing to begin operations before the festival.

According to the Sugarcane Development Department, 33 sugar mills have issued indents for sugarcane purchases, allowing farmers to prepare for the supply of their produce. Of these, crushing operations at 24 mills are scheduled to begin before Diwali, while the remaining mills will start after the festival.

The early commencement of the crushing season is expected to benefit more than 47 lakh sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh. However, alongside the start of mill operations, farmers are also waiting for the state government's decision on increasing the State Advised Price (SAP) of sugarcane for the new season.

Nine Sugar Mills Begin Commercial Crushing in Uttar Pradesh

The Sugarcane Development Department has confirmed that nine sugar mills have started commercial crushing for the 2026-27 season. These include eight privately operated mills and one cooperative sugar mill.

The crushing operations have started across four major regions of the state. Three mills are operational in the Saharanpur region, one in the Meerut region, two in the Moradabad region and three in the Lucknow region.

With these mills becoming operational, farmers in the respective areas can begin supplying their harvested sugarcane for processing.

Meanwhile, other mills are also completing preparations to start their operations. The department has directed all sugar mills to complete the necessary arrangements at their designated sugarcane purchase centres without delay.

The mills have also been instructed to ensure that sugarcane procurement and crushing activities begin according to schedule. Proper arrangements at purchase centres are important to prevent difficulties for farmers during deliveries and ensure the smooth movement of sugarcane from fields to mills.

28.14 Lakh Hectares Under Sugarcane Cultivation in UP

Uttar Pradesh is among India's largest sugarcane-producing states, with more than 47 lakh farmers dependent on sugarcane cultivation and sales to sugar mills.

According to the Sugarcane Development Department, sugarcane has been cultivated across approximately 28.14 lakh hectares in the state during the current 2026-27 crushing season.

The timely start of crushing operations is important for farmers as it allows them to sell their harvested sugarcane without unnecessary delays. It also helps them receive payments for their produce and clear their fields in time for the next agricultural activities.

With a large area under sugarcane cultivation, the timely functioning of mills and purchase centres will play an important role in supporting farmers throughout the crushing season.

Farmers Demand Sugarcane Price Increase to ₹500 Per Quintal

While the beginning of the crushing season has brought some relief, the demand for higher sugarcane prices has become another major concern among farmers.

Farmer organisations have pointed out that the cost of sugarcane cultivation has increased over the past few years. Rising expenses on fertilisers, seeds, irrigation, diesel and agricultural labour have made farming more expensive, reducing the profit farmers earn at existing sugarcane prices.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) National President Naresh Tikait has also raised the issue with the government and demanded an increase of at least ₹100 per quintal in the sugarcane price.

According to Tikait, the production cost of sugarcane has crossed ₹400 per quintal under current conditions. Considering the increasing expenses and hard work involved in cultivation, he has demanded that the government raise the sugarcane price to ₹500 per quintal.

Farmer organisations believe that a higher State Advised Price would provide much-needed financial relief and help farmers earn better returns from sugarcane cultivation.

UP Sugarcane Farmers Await Yogi Government's Decision on SAP

With nine mills already operational and 24 more expected to begin crushing before Diwali, the 2026-27 sugarcane season has started on an important note for Uttar Pradesh's farming community.

However, the final outlook for farmers will also depend on the government's decision regarding the new State Advised Price. Farmers and their organisations are closely watching the Yogi Adityanath-led government's next announcement, as any revision in the sugarcane price will directly affect the earnings of more than 47 lakh farmers across the state.

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CMV360 Says

The early start of the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season at nine mills is an important development for Uttar Pradesh's 47 lakh sugarcane farmers. With 24 more mills expected to begin operations before Diwali, farmers will get better opportunities to sell their harvest and prepare their fields for upcoming crops. However, the demand for ₹500 per quintal sugarcane price remains a key issue, and farmers are waiting for the Yogi government's decision on the new SAP.