UP sugar mills owe Rs 5,795 cr to cane farmers despite lucrative prices

92% of these dues were from corporate sector; more than half owed by just four companies

Sugarcane payment arrears to farmers in Uttar Pradesh stood at Rs 5,795 crore till last Friday, despite lucrative sugar prices this time, indicating that the benefits of a good year for the sector don't necessarily trickle down to growers.

The ongoing 2016-17 sugar season, which started on October 1, will go on till September-end 2017.

As much as Rs 5,320 crore, or 92 per cent of these arrears of Rs 5,795 crore, was owed by the corporate sector. About 55 per cent of all dues are payable by only four companies.

Farmers are to be paid for