Lucknow, EW-NN: The Uttar Pradesh government will carry out a statewide GPS-based survey of sugarcane cultivation over a two-month period beginning May 1. The exercise is intended to generate real-time, verifiable data on acreage and crop details ahead of the next crushing season.

The initiative follows directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with the Cane Development and Sugar Industry Department issuing a detailed survey policy. Officials said the use of GPS technology is expected to reduce discrepancies in field data and strengthen transparency in the cane procurement system.

Under the plan, registered sugarcane farmers will receive SMS alerts at least three days before survey teams visit their fields. Each team, comprising a government cane supervisor and a sugar mill representative, will collect crop data in the presence of farmers and upload it directly to the department’s digital platform. Post-survey, farmers will be informed via SMS about key details including surveyed land area and crop variety. Authorities said this step is aimed at ensuring farmers have immediate access to verified records and reducing disputes over crop registration.

Cane Commissioner Veena Kumari Meena said the survey will run from May 1 to June 30 and will form the basis for planning the 2026–27 crushing season. Farmers will also be able to cross-check their land records through the state’s revenue portal, while sugar mills will publish final survey data on their respective websites. The exercise will simultaneously allow registration of new farmers. Officials said only those registered by September 30, 2026, will be eligible to supply cane to mills. Applications related to yield enhancement schemes will also be accepted during this period.

A nominal registration fee has been fixed at ₹10 for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers, ₹100 for small farmers and ₹200 for others. The government expects the initiative to create a more accurate database of sugarcane cultivation in the state, which remains India’s largest producer, while improving efficiency in procurement and farmer outreach.