Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh is set to increase to 100 lakh tonnes as the area under sugarcane has gone up by 12 per cent this year, from 20.54 lakh hectares to 23 lakh hectares. The sown area under the early varieties in the state has increased by 13% this season. After the last year's crushing season, sugar production in the state was 87.73 lakh tonnes. The cane department is now encouraging farmers to grow early verities and autumn sowing to increase yield. In Bijnor district, which ranks second in the state in terms of cane area, autumn showing has already started.
Officials claim that the increase in sugarcane cultivation area this year is due to timely payment of cane dues to farmers. Moreover, there is a boom in the sugar market. The sugarcane department is encouraging farmers to sow the crop in August and September as this leads to high crop yield and high sugar content.
District cane officer O P Singh said, “We have started sowing sugarcane from Friday. We are focusing on growing sugarcane through the trench method in the months of August and September. It is not only beneficial for farmers but also for sugar mills. Farmers have shown interest in sowing the early varieties. Bijnor's sugar recovery is highest in the nation at 11.70% per quintal of sugarcane. This year, the area under the early varieties of sugarcane has reached 93% of the total sown area in Bijnor.”