U.P. releases new sugarcane varieties eyeing increasing production

On October 4, 2026, the Uttar Pradesh government announced the release of four new sugarcane varieties for cultivation, aiming to boost both sugarcane and sugar production. The government highlighted that the early-maturing varieties are superior in terms of yield and sugar recovery.

During a meeting of the Seed Cane and Sugarcane Variety Approval Sub-Committee, officials, the Director of Uttar Pradesh Cane Seed and Research (UPCSR), scientists from the UP Council of Sugarcane Research in Shahjahanpur and the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research in Lucknow discussed the new sugarcane varieties. The data on yield and sugar content, presented by the UP Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur, showed that the early-maturing CoS.23232 variety had an average yield of 95.56 tons/hectare, which is 9.44% higher than the standard variety Co.0238. This variety is also resistant to Red Rot disease and shows good ratoon performance.

Based on these findings, the new variety is set to be cultivated, as it outperforms the popular Co.0238 variety in both yield and sugar recovery. The government also decided to phase out six older sugarcane varieties over the next two years due to their low popularity and minimal cultivation area.

With the approval of these high-yielding and high-sugar-recovery varieties, farmers will have a wider range of options for cultivation, leading to increased sugarcane yields and better economic prospects for the state's farmers. The sugar industry will also benefit from improved sugar recovery, potentially doubling the income of sugarcane farmers and advancing progress in the field.