“Sugarcane cultivation.” Sugarcane is one of India’s most important cash crops, offering relatively low risk and consistent returns even in challenging conditions. It is the raw material for the second-largest agro-based industry in the country after textiles. The sugar industry directly and indirectly employs millions—about 50 million farmers and 0.5 million skilled and unskilled workers in sugar factories and allied sectors. This crop significantly contributes to the socio-economic development of rural India.
As of January 2016, India had 716 installed sugar factories (Co-operative: 326, Private: 347, Public: 43) with a collective crushing capacity of approximately 330 lakh MT of sugar.
1. Major Sugarcane Growing States
Sugarcane is cultivated in both tropical and subtropical regions:
- Sub-Tropical States: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar
- Tropical States: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
These regions vary significantly in climate and rainfall, influencing the yield and cultivation practices.
2. Agro-Climatic Regions of Sugarcane Cultivation
2.1 Tropical Sugarcane Region
Tropical states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat contribute around 55% of the country’s total sugarcane production. Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu show higher productivity. These regions benefit from favorable climatic conditions, better irrigation, and longer growing seasons. However, moisture stress during March to June and disease outbreaks like red rot are common issues.
Average yield: ~80 tonnes/hectare
2.2 Sub-Tropical Sugarcane Region
States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana fall under this region, accounting for about 55% of the area and 45% of total production. The yield here is lower due to climate extremes, shorter growing seasons, and pest/disease problems.
Average yield: ~60 tonnes/hectare
3. Area, Production & Yield
Based on data from Annexures I-III of the NFSM document:
State-wise (Normal) Area, Production, and Yield (Annexure II)
| State | Area (Lakh ha) | Production (Lakh MT) | Yield (Tonnes/ha) |
| Uttar Pradesh | 22.77 | 1352.31 | 59.37 |
| Maharashtra | 8.90 | 801.00 | 90.00 |
| Karnataka | 4.70 | 387.00 | 82.34 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2.70 | 306.00 | 113.33 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2.00 | 178.00 | 89.00 |
| Bihar | 2.40 | 144.00 | 60.00 |
| Gujarat | 1.80 | 145.00 | 80.56 |
| Punjab | 0.93 | 66.00 | 71.00 |
| Haryana | 0.96 | 66.00 | 68.75 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 0.80 | 58.00 | 72.50 |
| Uttarakhand | 0.85 | 51.00 | 60.00 |
India Total
- Area: ~49.81 lakh hectares
- Production: ~3454.31 lakh MT
- Average Yield: ~69.37 tonnes/hectare
Global Comparison (Annexure III: 2010–2014)
| Country | Area (Million ha) | Production (Million MT) | Yield (Tonnes/ha) |
| Brazil | 10.10 | 717.46 | 71.00 |
| India | 5.00 | 352.14 | 70.43 |
| China | 1.60 | 123.80 | 77.38 |
| Thailand | 1.30 | 98.32 | 75.63 |
| Pakistan | 1.10 | 62.99 | 57.26 |
India ranks second globally in both area and production, following Brazil. However, its yield is slightly lower compared to other top-producing countries like China and Thailand.
4. Sugarcane Varieties
Each state has recommended early, mid-late, and late-maturing varieties suited to its agro-climatic conditions. Some notable varieties include: – Uttar Pradesh: CoS 8436, CoS 88230, CoLk 8102 – Maharashtra: CoC 671, Co 86032, CoM 265 – Tamil Nadu: Co 94012, CoC 24 – Bihar: Bo 99, CoP 9301 – Karnataka: Co 8014, Co 92020
5. Temperature Requirements
| Growth Stage | Max Temp (°C) | Min Temp (°C) | RH (%) |
| Germination | 32 | 20 | – |
| Tillering | 35 | 18 | – |
| Grand Growth | 30 | 14 | 80-85 |
| Ripening | 30 | 20 | 50-55 |
6. Soil Requirements
- Heavy soils with good drainage are preferred
- Ideal soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
- Organic carbon: 0.5-0.6%
- Suitable soils include loams and clay loams in the north and laterites, black cotton soils in the south
7. Planting and Sowing Practices for Sugarcane Cultivation
- Tropical States: “Adsali” crop (18 months)
- Sub-Tropical States: “Eksali” crop (12 months)
- Seasons:
- Autumn (Sept–Oct)
- Spring (Feb–March)
- Methods: Trench, paired-row, deep furrow, and ring pit methods are preferred
- Seed Rate:
- North India: 40,000–60,000 setts/ha
- South India: 25,000–40,000 setts/ha
- Row Spacing: 60–100 cm
8. Irrigation and Water Management
- Total water requirement:
- Tropical: 2000–3500 mm
- Sub-Tropical: 1400–1800 mm
- Irrigation Schedule:
- Every 7–10 days during the growth stages
- Techniques:
- Alternate furrow irrigation
- Drip irrigation
- Trash mulching
- Drought Mitigation: Foliar spray of 2.5% urea + 2.5% MOP during stress periods
9. Fertilizer Requirement for Sugarcane Cultivation
- Nitrogen: 150–500 kg/ha, depending on region
- Phosphorus: 40–60 kg P₂O₅/ha
- Potassium: Applied in light soils
- Sulphur: 40–60 kg/ha
- Zinc: 20–30 kg ZnSO₄/ha
- FYM: 10 tonnes/ha
10. Weed Management
- Pre-Emergence: Atrazine 2 kg/ha or Oxyfluorfen 750 ml/ha
- Post-Emergence: Grammaxone + 2,4-D; also glyphosate where appropriate
- Manual/Mechanical: Junior hoe or power tillers if herbicides are not used
11. Prominent Sugarcane Varieties
- Uttar Pradesh: CoS 8436, CoS 88230, CoLk 8102
- Maharashtra: CoC 671, Co 86032, CoM 265
- Tamil Nadu: Co 94012, CoC 24
- Bihar: Bo 99, CoP 9301
- Karnataka: Co 8014, Co 92020
And several other state-specific varieties…
12. Cropping Systems for Sugarcane Cultivation
- Sub-Tropical:
- Paddy → Sugarcane → Ratoon → Wheat
- Greengram → Sugarcane → Ratoon → Wheat
- Tropical:
- Bajra → Sugarcane → Ratoon → Wheat
- Paddy → Sugarcane → Ratoon → Vegetables
13. Products and By-Products
Sugarcane is highly valued for its multiple end products:
- Primary: Sugar, jaggery, syrups
- By-products: Bagasse, molasses, press mud
- Uses: Food, ethanol, fuel, fodder, bioplastics, alcohol, electricity generation
14. Ethanol Production Potential
- 1 tonne sugarcane → 100 kg sugar + 40 kg molasses
- 1 tonne molasses → ~250 litres ethanol
- 1 tonne sugarcane (direct) → 72–75 litres ethanol
India is pushing for 10% ethanol blending to reduce oil imports and boost farm income.
15. Government Initiatives
- NFSM – Commercial Crops (Sugarcane) in 13 states since 2014
- RKVY support for infrastructure, intercropping, and mechanization
- Promotion of bud chip technology, micro-irrigation, and tissue culture for seedling production
- FRP Pricing: A guaranteed minimum price set annually by the Government of India
16. Challenges in Sugarcane Farming
- Sub-Tropical: Climate extremes, waterlogging, delayed planting, poor ratoon
- Tropical: Lack of irrigation, seed shortages, pests, diseases
- Common Issues: Fertility decline, weed control, and mechanization lag
Also read about- Jute Cultivation in India: A Sustainable Fibre Revolution
Conclusion
Sugarcane continues to be a pillar of rural prosperity in India. With ongoing government support through schemes like NFSM, technological innovations, and sustainable practices, sugarcane farming holds vast potential to contribute to India’s food security, energy independence, and employment generation.
Source:
This article is based on data and recommendations from the official report titled
🔗 Brief Note on Sugarcane – NFSM (National Food Security Mission)
Shivank patyal is a versatile blogger with a B.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology and 5 years of experience writing about agriculture, sustainability, and entertainment topics. With expertise in digital marketing and field experience in crop cultivation, Shivank provides practical insights for farmers while also engaging readers with content on diverse subjects. Passionate about sharing knowledge, Shivank combines education and creativity to connect with a wide audience.
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