As sugarcane crushing gathers steam in UP, focus shifts to crop's price

UP is estimated to produce 45% of India's sugar in 2019-20 cycle

Sugarcane is gathering steam in Uttar Pradesh, raising the issue of how the government is going to fix the support price for the crop that supports almost 5 million farmers’ households in the state.

According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), UP is estimated to account for 12 million tonnes (MT) of sugar production in the current 2019-20 season, or more than 45% of the country’s estimated output of 26 MT.

Private millers had, through a series of letters written over the past few months to the state government, already harped on the subdued sugar market. This included muted