In Western UP’s Sugarcane Hub, Farmers Struggle to Make Ends Meet

In western UP, unpaid dues and unfulfilled promises have led to resentment among sugarcane farmers.

In western UP, unpaid dues and unfulfilled promises made by governments have led to resentment among farmers.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim

The Quint reached western Uttar Pradesh to find out what the issues that which matter to sugarcane farmers are, and whether politicians have fulfilled their promises.

In western UP's sugarcane hub, unpaid dues and unfulfilled promises made by state and central governments has led to resentment among farmers. Raghubir, a sugarcane farmer, says that he has received no money since two months. The mill he supplies to is saying that the sugar hasn't been sold. “We are just making ends meet, that's it,” he says.

According to Udaypur Singh, a sugarcane farmer, the farmers in the area have many issues. "When the BJP government came to power, they increased sugarcane prices by only Rs 10. The previous governments also didn’t increase the price. This year, there has been no increase in price. Sugarcane has been lying in the fields."

For Jaysharan, also a sugarcane farmer, the biggest issues is the problem of payment. He says, "Payment worth Rs 4 lakh is still pending and on top of that, sugarcane crops across 40 bighas is yet to be reaped." Watch the full story here.