The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday announced a hike in state advisory price (SAP) for sugarcane by Rs 25 per quintal on Sunday, just ahead of the assembly elections in the state early next year.

The SAP, which remained stagnant for three years, would be raised from Rs 315 to Rs 340/ quintal for normal cane variety from the October crushing season, a move that is being seen as a step towards keeping farmers happy, especially in the restive western UP.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath made the SAP hike announcement at a kisan sammelan organised here by BJP, a day ahead of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by farmers’ organisations under the aegis of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha on Monday.

Yogi also announced that his government was planning to provide a waiver to farmers erring on payment of electricity dues. This comes close on the heels of the state government’s decision to withdraw stubbleburning cases against farmers.

SAP has been raised for all sugarcane varieties with highyielding ones fetching Rs 350 per quintal and low-yield varieties pegged at Rs 330 per quintal. Soon after assuming power in 2017, BJP raised the SAP by Rs 10 to Rs 315 and kept it unchanged, while focusing on timely payment of cane arrears to farmers.