The government has stepped up efforts to curb rising sugar prices and hoarding, with state authorities now taking stricter measures to keep prices under control. The District Cane Officer (DCO), Bijnor, has directed all sugar mills in the district to ensure that the sale price of sugar does not exceed ₹5,000 per quintal under any circumstances.
The directive was issued on Thursday, September 3, 2026, following instructions given during a virtual review meeting chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Sugar Industry and Cane Development Department, Uttar Pradesh. The District Cane Officer has asked all sugar mills in Bijnor to ensure strict compliance with the order.
Bijnor District Cane Officer B.K. Patel told Rural Voice that traders have been unable to purchase sugar because mills were selling it at higher rates, despite lower prices in the retail market.
“In view of the situation and in accordance with the instructions received from the state government, sugar mills have been directed not to sell sugar at a rate exceeding Rs 5,000 per quintal,” Patel said. The objective, he said, is to ensure adequate availability of sugar in the market at reasonable prices.
The order makes it clear that any violation by a sugar mill could invite action at the level of the Collector and District Magistrate, Bijnor, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The order specifically refers to hoarding, black marketing, and profiteering as offences warranting punitive action.
Sugar mills have also been instructed to upload information regarding compliance and sugar sales on the caneup.in portal by 1 pm every day, allowing authorities to monitor sales and prices more closely.
The Uttar Pradesh directive comes at a time when sugar prices have risen sharply across the country, prompting the Central government to step up measures against hoarding, speculation and artificial shortages.
The Centre has taken a series of steps to improve domestic availability and prevent market manipulation, including imposing stock limits on sugar dealers and tightening monitoring of stocks held by market participants. These measures are aimed at discouraging traders from holding excessive stocks in anticipation of further price increases.
‘Order Against Farmers’ Interests’
The order has, however, drawn criticism from farmer organisations. Chaudhary Digambar Singh, Youth State President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik), termed the recent directive of the Uttar Pradesh Cane Department as being against farmers’ interests and demanded that the government reconsider it.
Singh said the government becomes concerned as soon as prices of farmers’ produce rise, while similar concern is not visible when the prices of fertilisers, seeds, fuel and everyday consumer goods increase. He argued that excessive restrictions on sugar prices could ultimately hurt sugarcane farmers, particularly if lower sugar realisations put pressure on the economics of sugar mills and, indirectly, on the returns to farmers.