Sugarcane production has increased in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (UP), a major sugarcane–producing state in India, is poised to achieve record sugar production next year. Recent sowing data reveals that UP has witnessed the highest increase in sugarcane cultivation among all states. During the recent cultivation year, UP has already produced 10.5 Million Tonnes of sugar, surpassing all other states.
10% Increase in sowing land
A sugar mill representative in the Rampur district of UP stated that there has been a 9 – 10% increase in sugarcane cultivation in their command area. As of 7th July, the acreage under sugarcane reached 2.75 Million Hectares, compared to 2.36 Million Hectares during the same period last year. The state government assigns each sugar mill a specific geographical area, obligating them to purchase sugarcane from farmers at the state-advised price. The representative also noted that the acreage could have been higher if farmers had followed the advisory of not sowing paddy before 20th June.
Hope for a favorable outcome with fear
The increased sugarcane acreage in UP has contributed to this optimistic projection. Aditya Jhunjhunwala, President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), expressed hope for a favorable outcome this year, citing promising plant growth. However, concerns linger among millers regarding the potential impact of climate change. They fear that heavy unseasonal rains in October, as witnessed last year, could adversely affect the crops.
Upfront challenges for Uttar Pradesh
Furthermore, UP faces challenges related to the widespread cultivation of the CO-0238 sugarcane variety, which has recently been susceptible to pest attacks due to its extensive coverage over the past few years. Some farmers in the region have already started exploring alternative varieties of CO-0238, and Ramesh Malik, a cane farmer in Shamli, expressed his intention to transition to other varieties after assessing their yield over a few years.
In the state of Maharashtra Sugarcane production has decreased
In contrast, Maharashtra is India’s prominent sugarcane-producing state and it has experienced a decline in the current year. Maharashtra’s sugarcane acreage has decreased from 1.21 Million Hectares to 1.05 Million Hectare. Challenging conditions and various factors have contributed to this setback for the state’s sugarcane industry.
Although UP exhibited a higher cane juice recovery of 11.5% compared to Maharashtra’s 11.2% in the 2021 – 22 season, sugar production relative to acreage remains lower than that of Maharashtra. Additionally, a significant portion of the sugarcane cultivated in Uttar Pradesh is diverted for jaggery and alcohol production.
Nationwide, the total acreage under sugarcane stands at 5.44 Million Hector, compared to 5.29 Million Hector during the same period last year.