Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Nov 8: With an eye on coming polls in UP, chief minister (CM) played another master stroke by increasing the State Advisory Price (SAP) by Rs 40 per quintal on Tuesday. Now the sugarcane farmers in UP will get Rs 250 per quintal for early variety and Rs 240 per quintal for the common variety and Rs 235 per quintal for remaining varieties.

Sugarcane plays an important role in UP's politics with western region of the state being the epicentre for sugarcane cultivation. Espousing sugarcane farmers' cause the late Choudhary Charan Singh even became the Prime Minister of India. Political parties vye with each other in taking up sugarcane farmers' cause. There are an estimated 4.5 million farmers who are directly engaged in sugarcane cultivation in the state.

However, acting smartly CM Mayawati got the new hike in SAP of sugarcane cleared by state cabinet on Tuesday. Understanding the importance of the decision, she herself called a press conference to announce the decision. With the state going to polls in early 2012 the decision is likely to swing the farmer's support in ruling Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) favour. CM Mayawati also gave strict orders to all the private sugar mills to start crushing season within three days else face the music. They will have to pay farmers as per the new rates.

Since BSP assumed power in the state in 2007 the SAP for sugarcane has been doubled. In 2007 it was only Rs 125 per quintal. Farmers in Punjab are being paid between Rs 220 and Rs 230 per quintal. The Centre has announced a Fair Renumeration Price (FRP) of cane at Rs 145 per quintal.

However, the opposition parties in the state cried foul stating that the hike was too little for the farmers. Leading of opposition and Samajwadi Party member Shivpal Yadav demanded a SAP for cane at Rs 350 per quintal. Congress claimed that it should be atleast Rs 300 while BJP stated that it should be anything between 325-300 per quintal.