Baghpat Sugarcane Crisis: Why Farmers are Boycotting Malakpur Sugar Mill

The Dispute Over 'Kraya Kendra' Allocation

The search term गन्ना (sugarcane) recently spiked in India following reports of localized agrarian unrest in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. Farmers from several villages, including Bamanoli, Bijrol, Ranchhad, and Sirsali, have announced a boycott of the Malakpur sugar mill, refusing to supply their crops due to a dispute over the allocation of purchase centers (क्रय केंद्र).

According to local reports from early October 2026, farmers allege that the chairman of the Malakpur Cane Committee unilaterally shifted the purchase centers in favor of the Malakpur mill without consulting the growers. Previously, farmers in villages such as Angadpur, Johri, and Jivana Guliyan had the flexibility to supply their sugarcane to multiple mills, including Kinouni, Daurala, Bhaisana, Khatauli, and Mansurpur, based on their own convenience [1].

Impact on Crop Cycles and Payments

Beyond the logistics of purchase centers, the protest is fueled by systemic delays that threaten the farmers' overall livelihood. The growers have raised two primary grievances regarding the Malakpur mill's operations:

• Payment Delays: Farmers claim that the Malakpur mill has failed to make timely payments for the sugarcane supplied.
• Parchi Indent Delays: There are reports of delays in issuing 'parchi indents' (supply slips). Because these slips are essential for scheduling, delays in their issuance hinder the timely sowing of the subsequent wheat crop [2].

Escalation and Demands

The situation escalated during a series of village panchayats held in early October 2026. Farmers have expressed a firm resolve not to accept a single-mill monopoly in their region, with some stating they would rather crush the sugarcane themselves than supply it to the Malakpur mill.

To resolve the deadlock, farmer delegations have planned to seek intervention from higher authorities. This includes meetings with the District Magistrate (DM) of Baghpat and a planned visit to the Cane Commissioner in Lucknow to demand that the purchase centers be restored to their previous multi-mill arrangement [2].