‘Sugarcane Causes Diabetes, Grow Other Crops’: CM Yogi to Farmers

UP CM Yogi Adityanath. 

(File Photo: IANS)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has suggested that farmers in Uttar Pradesh start growing crops other than sugarcane, to “help contain diabetes”.

At a road inauguration programme in Baghpat on Tuesday, 11 September, Adityanath said:

“Excess production of sugarcane leads to excess consumption, which, in turn, causes sugar (diabetes).”

Sugarcane is the key crop cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, and the state alone accounts for 38 percent of the country's total sugar production. Over 40 lakh rural households are engaged in cane farming, according to PTI.

The UP Chief Minister said that cultivating other crops would be beneficial to the state. Addressing farmers at Baghpat, Adityanath said:

“The market in Delhi is good for farmers. I would like to make an appeal to you that if you cultivate other crops and different types of vegetables, it will be beneficial to the state.”

Addressing the issue of pending dues, Adityanath added that strict action will be taken against sugar mills that fail to clear pending payments of farmers.

“The remaining 10,000 crore of the sugarcane farmers will be cleared very soon by the sugar mills. If they (sugar mills) don’t clear the sugarcane farmers’ dues by 15 October, they will have to face the consequences.”

Adityanath, as quoted by <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/politics/sugarcane-leads-to-diabetes-grow-other-crops-cm-yogi-to-up-farmers-1875049.html">News18</a>

The clearance of dues has been a concern for the BJP government in the state. In the recently held Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll, the Opposition lashed out at the party over farmers’ pending dues, so much so that "Jinnah Vs Ganna" became its slogan cry against the BJP, The Times of India reported.

To provide relief to sugarcane farmers and ensure clearance of their dues, the central government in June brought out a comprehensive package of more than Rs 8,000 crore to cover up the total cane-related arrears of more than Rs 20,000 crore, IANS reported.

(With inputs from IANS, The Times of India)