Sugar Crisis in Uttar Pradesh Despite Record Allocation

Kanpur: Although the Union Ministry of Food has allocated a record 'free-sale' sugar quota—1.6 million tonnes for the second fortnight of October and 3 million tonnes for the entire month—a shortage of the commodity persists in Uttar Pradesh, causing hardship to common consumers due to high prices.

In light of this, the Kanpur Sugar Merchants Association has written to the state's Chief Minister, urging immediate precautionary measures to ensure adequate market supply and curb the surge in prices.

According to available data, the Central Government allocated a free-sale quota of 450,809 tonnes of sugar to Uttar Pradesh mills for the second half of October, mandating sales between October 13 and 31.

While Uttar Pradesh received the second-largest quota after Maharashtra, traders are reporting difficulties in procuring sufficient quantities of sugar from the mills. It is believed that millers in Uttar Pradesh are selling large quantities of sugar outside the state at higher prices, leading to a shortage within the state itself.