The sugar production season in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has officially begun, bringing relief to sugarcane farmers across the state.

The Sugarcane and Sugar Commissioner has reported that 102 sugar mills in UP have issued indents for the purchase of sugarcane for the 2024-25 marketing season.

Of these, 90 mills have already started crushing the sugarcane, with 79 mills in the private sector, 10 in the cooperative sector, and one operated by the government.

Efforts to ensure timely payments to farmers have been intensified, with 39 sugar mills already starting the process of clearing dues for the current season.

Other mills are expected to begin paying soon. The crushing activity is spread across various divisions, including Saharanpur, Meerut, Bareilly, Moradabad, and others, with operations also starting in Lucknow, Ayodhya, Deoria, and Devipatan divisions.

Additionally, all the necessary formalities for starting crushing in the remaining 12 sugar mills that have issued indents have been completed, and crushing will soon begin at those units as well.

The Commissioner has stressed the importance of adhering to payment rules to ensure that farmers receive their due prices on time.

The sugarcane crop in UP is in good condition, and the overall sugar production is expected to be on par with last season.