Behind PM’s ethanol pitch at Jewar: UP’s cane belt, 50 lakh farmers & 2027 polls, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• PM Modi highlighted India's ethanol push, particularly by sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
• Uttar Pradesh is claiming to be India's largest ethanol producer, with production increasing four-fold since 2017.
• In 2025-26, Uttar Pradesh's ethanol production reached 187.80 crore litres, up from 42.70 crore litres in 2016-17.
• The state government increased the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane by Rs 30 per quintal in October 2023 for the 2025-26 crushing season.

Detailed Insights:

• Uttar Pradesh accounts for over 57% of India's sugarcane production, with cultivation area rising from 20.54 lakh hectares in 2016-17 to 28.61 lakh hectares in 2025-26.
• The state has about 50 lakh sugarcane farmers who play a key role in about 80-100 Assembly seats in western and central Uttar Pradesh.
• Increased ethanol production has helped sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh to make timely payments to farmers, addressing a long-standing issue.
• Besides molasses, the government is exploring the use of maize and broken rice for ethanol production, with maize prices rising due to higher demand from distilleries.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ethanol: A renewable fuel produced from various plant materials, used as a gasoline additive.
• State Advisory Price (SAP): The price at which state governments advise sugar mills to purchase sugarcane from farmers.