Sugarcane belts to set tone for Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh

In the backdrop of the sugarcane arrears in Uttar Pradesh (UP) topping Rs 12,000 crore, the cane belt of western UP, scheduled to witness polling in the initial phases beginning April 11, is likely to set the tone for elections in the country’s top sugar-producing state.

UP’s sugarcane economy, estimated at Rs 40,000 crore, directly impacts nearly 4 million farmers’ households and has an intrinsic downstream integration with the industry, especially sugar mills. 

The issue of sugarcane payments has always acquired political connotations, especially during elections. Even the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised prompt cane payments in its election manifesto before