U.P. releases new sugarcane varieties eyeing increased production
The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday, October 4, 2026, announced the release of four new sugarcane varieties for cultivation, saying the early-maturing lines have demonstrated superior yield and sugar recovery and are expected to lift both sugarcane and sugar output in the State.
Approvals following sub-committee review
According to officials, the decision followed a recent meeting of the Seed Cane and Sugarcane Variety Approval Sub-Committee, which reviewed data on yield and sugar content presented by the U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research (UPCSR), Shahjahanpur. The session was attended by sub-committee officials, the Director of UPCSR, scientists from UPCSR Shahjahanpur, and the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow.
“A meeting of the Seed Cane and Sugarcane Variety Approval Sub-Committee was held recently, discussions regarding the release of new sugarcane varieties took place during the meeting, attended by sub-committee officials, Director UPCSR, scientists from the UP Council of Sugarcane Research (Shahjahanpur) and the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (Lucknow). Data concerning the yield and sugar content of new sugarcane varieties—proposed by the U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur, were presented,” Uttar Pradesh Cane Commissioner and Managing Director, State Sugar Corporation Limited, Ministhy S., told The Hindu.
Performance of new varieties
Sharing details from the evaluation, Ministhy S. said the plant crop of one of the early-maturing varieties, CoS.23232, recorded an average yield of 95.56 tonnes per hectare—9.44% higher than the State’s popular standard, Co.0238. The new line is also reported to be resistant to Red Rot and to show good ratoon performance, two traits considered critical for maintaining field productivity and plantation longevity.
“According to the data, the average yield of the plant crop for the early-maturing variety CoS.23232 was 95.56 tons/hectare, which is 9.44% higher than that of the standard variety Co.0238. This variety is resistant to Red Rot disease and exhibits good ratoon performance. Following deliberations, the sugarcane variety is being cultivated, as it was found to be superior to the popular variety Co.0238 on both parameters of yield and sugar recovery. They would prove to be the best alternative for farmers and would contribute to increasing both sugarcane and sugar production,” she added.
Additional releases considered; older lines to be phased out
Abhishek Anand, Additional Cane Commissioner and Director, UPCSR, said the sub-committee also considered an early-maturing sugarcane variety developed by IISR, Lucknow. In the same meeting, a decision was taken to declare six older sugarcane varieties “unsuitable” owing to their lack of popularity and negligible area under cultivation. These legacy lines will be phased out over the next two years, he said.
“With the approval of new, high-yielding and high-sugar-recovery sugarcane varieties, farmers will have a wide basket of varieties for the cultivation; this will lead to increased sugarcane yield and greater economic prosperity for the state’s farmers, while the sugar industry will also benefit from the improved sugar recovery. Director UPCSR said that this will boost the sugarcane farmer’s income and go a long way in doubling the farmer’s income. It is a great testament to progress and research done by scientists of UPCSR Shahjahanpur,” Anand said.
Expected impact
Officials said the newly approved early-maturing varieties are intended to provide growers with alternatives that combine higher productivity with better sugar recovery, traits that can help stabilize farm incomes and enhance mill recoveries. With a wider choice of improved lines and a planned phase-out of low-performing, little-used varieties over the next two years, the government expects gains across the cane value chain—from field yields to sugar output—while reinforcing ongoing research and varietal development at UPCSR and IISR.
Published: October 5, 2026
