LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the availability of sugar in the state and assured citizens that there is an ample supply, advising the public not to panic. Currently, sugar mills across the state hold a surplus stock of 17.938 million quintals (1.7938 million metric tons).
The Chief Minister noted that sugar mills sold 23.5 million quintals of sugar during June and July, most of which remains available in the open market. To balance supply and demand, instructions have been issued to operationalize sugar mills starting October 15, if required.
Crackdown on Black Marketing and Hoarding
Taking a strong stance against individuals spreading rumors about sugar shortages or engaging in black marketing, the Chief Minister directed strict legal measures under federal guidelines:
Limits for Dealers: Dealers are prohibited from holding sugar stocks for more than 30 days. Additionally, stock is capped at a maximum of 400 metric tons at any given time.
Bulk Consumers (Consuming 10+ Metric Tons/Month): Commercial bulk users cannot hold stock exceeding 15 days of their requirement.
Rules for Sugar Mills: Mills must dispatch their monthly allocated quotas and cannot retain sold sugar in warehouses for more than 7 days from the sale date.
Physical Verification Directives
District Magistrates (DMs) across all districts have been instructed to conduct physical verifications of registered sugar mills, as well as wholesale and retail warehouses, to inspect actual stock levels. Strict legal penalties will be enforced against anyone holding excess stock or creating artificial shortages.
Upcoming Crushing Season and Farmer Payouts
Projected Cultivation Area: For the 2026–27 crushing season, sugarcane cultivation is estimated at 2.814 million hectares, with a projected sugar production of 9 million metric tons.
Monthly Consumption: UP’s estimated monthly consumption is approximately 400,000 metric tons, making current reserves highly sufficient.
Farmer Payments: During the 2025–26 crushing season, over ₹32,554 crore was disbursed to 4.8 million farmers.
The state administration continues to actively monitor local market prices and stock levels to ensure stability.