Uttar Pradesh pushes sugarcane transformation with digital reforms, modern governance

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A farmer seen transporting sugarcane loaded in a tractor to the Sugar Mill at Amroha Dist in Uttar Pradesh. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday (September 11, 2026) said that the sugarcane sector in the State witnessed significant growth, with nearly half of India’s sugarcane now produced in the state, making it central not only to the sugar economy but also to ethanol production and agricultural growth.

The number of sugarcane farmers associated with the sector has also shown a steady increase over the years, reaching 48,03,084 bonded farmers in 2024-25, reflecting the expanding reach and economic significance of sugarcane cultivation across the State, the government added.

“Ten years ago, Uttar Pradesh’s sugarcane economy was defined by familiar challenges. Farmers grappled with delays in payments, cumbersome paperwork, fragmented information flows and limited access to technology. Productivity growth had begun to plateau in several regions, while institutions created to support farmers often remained constrained by outdated processes. Today, the sector presents a markedly different picture. With around 1364 lakh tonne sugarcane production in 2015-16 rising to 2362 lakh tonne in 2025-26, Uttar Pradesh remains the country’s largest sugarcane-producing State. Nearly half of India’s sugarcane is now produced in Uttar Pradesh, making the State central not only to the sugar economy but also to ethanol production and agricultural growth. The number of sugarcane farmers associated with the sector has also shown a steady increase over the years, reaching 48,03,084 bonded farmers in 2024-25, reflecting the expanding reach and economic significance of sugarcane cultivation across the State. Correspondingly, cane payments to farmers have recorded unprecedented growth, with sugar mills making payments exceeding ₹32,795 crore during 2025-26, compared to around ₹18,000 crore paid during 2015-16, underscoring significant improvements in farmer remuneration and payment efficiency,” said Ministhy S., Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner and Managing Director, State Sugar Corporation Limited, to The Hindu.

Ms. Ministhy, a 2003-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer highlighted a decade-long effort to modernize governance, strengthen institutions and place farmers at the centre of policy design led to the increased output and productivity.

“The most visible intervention has been the digitisation of the sugarcane administration system. For decades, farmers depended on physical records and repeated visits to offices for surveys, cane slips, payment information and grievance redressal.