Indian Farming 67(02): 64–68; February 2017

Sugarcane Production and Productivity

growth scenario in India
A K Sharma1 and A D Pathak2
ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow 226 002

G LOBALLY, sugarcane is
cultivated commercially in
about 80 countries in about 27
contributes nearly 10% of gross value
of the agricultural GDP in the
country, and provides livelihood to
surplus electricity from every 100
tonnes of cane crushed. Most of these
new mills (111) are sugar complexes,
million hectares in the world. About around 6 million cane growers. integrated with an in-built
63% of cane production is Sugarcane occupies a pre-eminent mechanism for producing
contributed by Brazil, India and position in the Indian Agricultural cogeneration and distilleries. Ethanol
China; out of which, India scenario. It has a significant role in production and cogeneration of
contributes about 29%. India’s sugar national economy and provides raw electricity in sugarcane factories have
profile in global scenario is entirely material to sugar and number of enhanced the importance of
different than those from major sugar industries producing alcohol, papers, sugarcane in national economy.
exporting countries like Brazil, chemicals and cattle feed. At present, Sugar industry has number of
Thailand, Australia and EU. India is the country has 762 installed sugar highly complex backward and
one of the largest sugarcane mills of different capacity. Sugarcane forward linkages with each
producers in the world (producing processing network generates downstream industry or the sub-
around 362 Mt of cane per annum) valuable by-products, which are used sector. Due to multi-purpose uses of
and is the second largest sugar in many industries. A sugar factory, sugarcane and its by-products in
producing country, contributing on an average, produces about 10.0 different industries, the demand is
around 15% to global sugar tonnes of raw sugar, 30.0 (range increasing for the increased
production. Sugarcane based sugar 27.0-33.0) tonnes of bagasse, 4.5 production of sugarcane. However,
sector has been a focal point for (range 4.0-5.4) tonnes of molasses, yearly fluctuations in sugarcane
socio-economic development in the 3.5-3.9 tonnes of filter/press mud, production do occur and results in
rural areas of India. With 5 M ha of 0.3 tonnes of furnace ash, 1,200 fluctuations in the production of
area, sugarcane occupies about (range 1125–1,300) litres of alcohol highly sensitive sugar commodity as
2.57% of total cropped area, by molasses route, and 10,000 kWhr well as disturbing the growth of

Growth analysis of sugarcane cultivation in India highlights that there has been an average
increase of around 9% except in area, 13 to 21% in production, and 6-8% in productivity by the
turn of the century. Except for a brief period of 5 to 6 years (1998-99 to 2003-04), when there
has been a period of negative growth, sugarcane has again regained its growth during the last 10
years though at a lower level compared to previous periods. Average sugarcane productivity in
India has fluctuated from 60 to 71.5 tonnes, and the peak level was obtained in 2014-15. The
average cane productivity in sub-tropical region is around 59.3 tonnes per hectare, i.e. 25.8 t/ha
lower compared to the tropical region and 11.09 t/ha lower compared to all India level. Among
states, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka have recorded significant growth during the last 15
years while some states have exhibited negative growth. Due to various constraints, there exist
yield gaps in sugarcane in almost every cane growing state. There exists a significant yield gap
between FLD yield levels and the state average yield (SAY) level to the extent of 10-25 t/ha in
tropical states and 7-20 t/ha in sub-tropical states. Other types of yield gaps by comparing with
the highest levels obtained in any district and also with the potential levels achieved in agronomic
trials in sugarcane also need to be considered for better focus. Bridging yield gaps would require
different kinds of approach and strategy for more fruitful results.

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64 February 2017
Table 1. Change in area, production and productivity of sugarcane (Five yearly averages: 1966 to 2014-15)

Period Area under Increase over Production of Increase over Yield Increase over
sugarcane the previous sugarcane the previous (t/ha) the previous
(000 ha) 5-year average (mln t) 5-year average 5-year
(%) (%) average (%)
1966-67 to 1970-71 2449 - 114.88 - 46.74 -
1971-72 to 1975-76 2650 8.23 132.83 15.62 50.07 7.13
1976-77 to 1980-81 2876 8.54 152.94 15.14 53.17 6.18
1981-82 to 1985-86 3092 7.52 178.18 16.5 57.66 8.45
1986-87 to 1990-91 3362 8.71 210.49 18.14 62.48 8.36
1991-92 to 1995-96 3769 12.68 254.75 21.03 67.18 7.52
1996-97 to 2000-01 4139 9.25 288.22 13.14 69.66 3.69
2001-02 to 2005-06 4115 -0.58 266.18 -7.65 64.6 -7.27
2005-06 to 2009-10 4599 11.76 312.44 17.38 67.88 5.07
2010-11 to 2014-15 5011 8.96 351.22 12.41 70.08 3.24

other sectors also. Sustainable 2006-07 and then in 2014-15, the eleven states which has more than
increase in sugarcane production and production of sugarcane declined and 75,000 ha area under sugarcane
productivity will have a favourable fluctuated. This resulted in wide during the last five years and which
impact in boosting the whole sugar fluctuations in domestic sugar supply account for around 97% of the total
sector. The present paper provides a in the country also. sugarcane cultivated area and 97% of
glimpse of production and The average productivity (Table 1) the sugarcane production in the
productivity growth of sugarcane in also showed an increase for every five country. Among states, UP is the
India during the last 50 years. years except for the recent years. The main cane growing state in the
productivity increased by about 6-8% country allocating about 2.2 million
Sugarcane Production Scenario in India up to 1995-96, with lesser rate of 3 ha area (43.7%) for cane cultivation
Sugarcane is generally grown in all % in late 90’s, decreased by 7% in followed by Maharashtra with about
States in India. There has been in the the new millennium, and then 981 thousand ha (19.6%) of cane
past, a steady growth in area under increased by 3 to 5% every five years area. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are
sugarcane cultivation (Table 1). The during the last 10 years. Sugarcane other major cane growing states in
area under sugarcane was only 17.07 productivity per ha was recorded at tropical region accounting for 6 to
lakh ha in 1950-51, 24.49 lakh ha in its highest at 71.3 tonnes per ha 8.7% of the cane area followed by AP
QE year 1970-71, 45.2 lakh ha in during 1994-95, and is only just 71.5 and Gujarat (3 to 4%). In sub-
2002-03 which increased to 51 lakh tonnes in 2014-15. It was even less tropical region, Bihar, Uttrakhand,
ha in some years with an average of than 60 tonnes/ha in 2003-04 mainly Haryana, Punjab and M.P are other
50 lakh ha in QE Year 2014-15. under the impact of drought and important cane growing states, in
(Table 1). Despite year-to-year incidence of white woolly aphid in descending order, each accounting for
fluctuations in the area under some areas. about 1.5 to 5% of the cane area in
sugarcane, the area has increased by the country.
nearly 105% in the last 50 years. The Sugarcane Production Scenario in In the tropical region, sugarcane
average increase in every five years States gets more or less ideal climatic
has been around 9% except for a Sugarcane in India, is cultivated conditions for its growth. It is
period of 8 years including the initial broadly under two distinct agro- cultivated with better package of
years of this millennium. The climatic conditions commonly practices and higher irrigation levels.
proportion of area under sugarcane referred to as tropical and sub- The growing season is long with
to the total cropped area has tropical belts. The tropical belt more equitable and favourable
remained more or less constant at comprising the states of Maharashtra, conditions without serious weather
about 2.5%. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra extremes. The agro-climatic
The production of sugarcane was Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, conditions of tropical India favour
about 115 mln tonnes in late sixties, Odisha and Kerala accounts for higher sugarcane and sugar yields.
which continued to increase with an 42.9% of the total area under The region contributes about 48% to
average increase of 13 to 21% for sugarcane cultivation in the country. the total cane production in the
every five years except for one period The sub-tropical sugarcane region country. The productivities are also
of five years (Table 1). Despite a constitutes around 57.1% of total higher. The average cane yields of the
significant setback in production in cane area in the country. The states of major states of the region
the initial years of the new UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Millennium, the production of Uttrakhand, M.P., Rajasthan, West Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and
sugarcane recorded a peak level of Bengal, Jharkhand, Asom, and other Gujarat) is around 85 tonnes/hectare,
355 mln tones during 2006-07, and North and North-eastern states fall in about 121% of the national average.
then of 362 mln tonnes during 2014- sub-tropical belt. Sugarcane, though In the coastal areas of Andhra
15. Within peak levels in 1998-99, grown in all areas, it is a main crop in Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, there are

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February 2017 65
extensive sugarcane areas with high In sub-tropical region, the and top borer and pyrilla are
sugarcane productivities. The average extremes of climate are the common and serious. The cane yields
yields in Tamil Nadu is around 105 t/ characteristic feature. During April to are lower in the subtropics due to
ha on an average. Floods, water June, the weather is very hot and dry short growing season, moisture
logging diseases such as red rot are and the temperatures are extremely stress, more pest and disease
the main problems for sugarcane high. December and January are the problem, floods and water logging
cultivation in the region. Moisture very cold months with temperature and very poor ratoons. The average
stress during the early part of the touching sub-zero levels in many yield of sugarcane in the region is
cane growths mostly during March to places. The major portion of the zone around 59.3 t/ha, i.e. 25.8 t/ha lower
June, is an important problem. Smut i.e. the North-West zone comprising compared to the tropical region and
is an important disease affecting the areas in Haryana, Punjab and 11.09 t/ha lower compared to all
sugarcane production in this region Western UP has very low India level.
particularly in the plateau region. In temperature in December-January
the coastal areas, red rot has become which often cause frost. Because of Growth Analysis
a major threat. Of-late, yellow leaf extremes of weather, the active In order to know the sugarcane
disease (YLD) has also started sugarcane growth is restricted to 4-5 growth in major states overtime, the
showing threatening dimensions. months only. In Eastern UP, Bihar, growth rates in area, production and
Among the pests, early shoot borer, and West Bengal, sugarcane suffers yield of sugarcane over different
particularly in the late planted crops, due to floods and water logging periods (1971-72 to 1984-85, 1985-
and wooly aphid are considerably during monsoon months. Several 86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2005-
serious in this region. pests and diseases, particularly red rot 06, and 2000-01 to 2014-15) are
worked out (Table 2). During mid
Table 2. Sugarcane area, production, productivity and its growth over the years in eighties to mid nineties, i.e. in pre
different states of India WTO era, the aggregate growth rate
State QE Year Per cent CAGR (%) in sugarcane production was positive.
2005-06 share@ 1971-72 to 1985-86 to 1995-96 to 2001-02 to During seventies, the contribution of
1984-85 1994-95 2005-06 2014-15 area growth was higher compared to
Area (000 ha) yield growth while in mid-eighties to
Uttar Pradesh 2191.0 43.72 1.8 0.8 0.35 0.69 early ninties, two-third of sugarcane
Uttrakhand 106.1 2.12 - - - -1.54 production growth was due to yield
Haryana 96.8 1.93 -0.6 -1 -0.15 -4.51 growth and only one-third was due
Punjab 83.2 1.66 -2.7 0.2 -3.61 -3.81 to area growth. In the WTO period
Bihar 246.1 4.91 - - - 7.69
(1995-96 to 2014-15), there are two
Maharashtra 981.0 19.57 3 3.3 -2.31 6.04
Andhra Pradesh 192.2 3.84 0.9 2.2 0.85 -1.58 distinct phases. In the first phase
Gujarat 189.2 3.78 8 3.1 1.64 0.06 (1995-96 to 2005-06), there has not
Karnataka 429.6 8.57 4.6 5.1 -3.59 2.47 been any significant growth in
Tamil Nadu 317.1 6.33 1.9 4.6 -1.6 0.99 sugarcane area, production and
All India 5011.7 100.00 1.7 1.1 -0.17 1.50 productivity. On the contrary, cane
Production (mln tones) production was negative and most of
Uttar Pradesh 131.0 37.30 2.6 3.2 0.27 1.20 which was on account of negative
Uttrakhand 6.3 1.80 - - - -1.43 yield growth. In the second phase
Haryana 7.1 2.03 -1.4 1.9 1.18 -2.48
comprising last 15 years, about 70%
Punjab 5.9 1.68 0.6 -0.3 -4.43 -2.33
Bihar 12.8 3.63 - - - 10.07
of the sugarcane production growth
Maharashtra 79.4 22.61 5.8 2 -4.73 6.99 is mainly due to area growth and only
Andhra Pradesh 15.2 4.31 0.3 2.6 0.92 -1.38 30% due to yield growth.
Gujarat 13.2 3.75 11 3.8 2.55 -0.08 Amongst states, there has been
Karnataka 38.8 11.05 3.9 6.8 -4.88 3.20 significant growth in cane production
Tamil Nadu 32.7 9.32 3.3 6.5 -2.17 1.16 in Maharashtra (6.99%) compared to
All India 351.2 100.00 2.8 3.2 -1.19 2.14 just 1.2% per year in UP during last
Productivity (t/ha) 15 years mainly on account of area
Uttar Pradesh 59.8 85.27 0.9 2.4 -0.62 0.51 growth. In Maharashtra, the
Uttrakhand 59.6 85.10 - - - 0.19
contribution of area growth is highly
Haryana 73.4 104.80 -0.8 2.9 1.33 2.13
Punjab 70.3 100.29 3.4 -0.5 -0.85 1.54
significant to production growth
Bihar 51.8 73.97 - - - 2.21 while its yield growth has remained
Maharashtra 80.9 115.46 2.7 -1.3 -2.47 0.90 negative for most of the period since
Andhra Pradesh 78.7 112.32 -0.7 0.5 0.06 0.19 eighties. In UP, the contribution of
Gujarat 69.7 99.51 2.8 0.7 0.88 -0.14 area growth was higher compared to
Karnataka 90.3 128.83 -0.7 1.6 -1.34 0.71 yield growth in initial periods while
Tamil Nadu 102.8 146.70 1.3 1.8 -0.58 0.17 yield growth is higher compared to
All India 70.1 100.00 1.1 2 -1.03 0.64
area growth in later periods including

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66 February 2017
the period comprising last 15 years. being followed in a wider scale. This region is subjected to biotic
The low yield growth (less than type of gap exists to the extent of 16 stresses viz. red rot, smut, wilt,
one per cent per year) in major cane to 29 t/ha in tropical states compared grassy shoot, ratoon stunting and
growing states in the new millennium to 11 to 22 t/ha in sub-tropical states. leaf scald diseases. The main
highlights that adequate incentives to It is higher compared to a-type gap. insect-pests like root borer, top
improve the yield levels have not Other types of yield gaps existing in borer, stalk borer, pyrilla and scale
been experienced by the cane growers sugarcane also need to be considered insect are the major pests.
during the period. Sustained growth for better focus. The potential yield • The major abiotic stresses include
in sugarcane production and levels obtained in agronomic water logging, droughts, limited
productivity is essential for overall experimental trials are at much higher availability of irrigation water,
growth of sugar industry of India. level, and Yield Gap-IIa (the suitable soil (salt stress) and
What is really required at the present difference between the potential yield uncongenial temperature for high
stage of development of sugarcane is level and the FLD yield level sucrose formation and bud-
to step up sugarcane growth over and obtained within the state) is very sprouting (low temperature).
above the rate already achieved in the high in all the states. It varied from Water requirement of the
past. 51 t/ha in Gujarat to 81 t/ha in sugarcane crop is high. It was
Maharashtra amongst tropical states, estimated that about 250 tonnes
Sugarcane Yield Levels and Gap and from 12 t/ha in Punjab to 99 t/ha of water is required to produce
Analysis in UP amongst sub-tropical states. one tonne of cane. Ideally, 35-40
Due to various constraints, there irrigations in tropics and 6-7
exist yield gaps in sugarcane in almost Factors for Low Cane Yields in India irrigations in sub-tropics are
every cane growing Indian state. The Number of constraints in required for a crop of 12 months
average cane yield in subtropical zone sugarcane production influence its duration. In many cases, this is
achieved at 59.3 t/ha is far below to successful cultivation. These are hardly possible, which invariably
the average cane yield in tropical resource, site-specific, technological, affects the crop yield. Moreover,
zone (85 t/ha) and against the climatic, socio-economic and the irrigation efficiency in flood or
potential yield of sugarcane (474 t/ environmental constraints which furrow method of surface
ha.). Different types of yield gaps hamper the cane productivity to rise irrigation, commonly followed, is
may be identified and bridging them above a certain level. These are: 30-50%, resulting in considerable
would require different kinds of • Almost entire sugarcane in India wastage of water. More relevant
approach and strategy for more is grown by small farmers. Sugar micro-irrigation techniques such
fruitful results. There exists a factories own no big farms. There as drip and fertigation for
significant Yield Gap-Ia (the are about 6 millions cane growers conserving and optimally utilizing
difference between FLD and the state in India having the cane farm-size limited water availability,
average yield (SAY) level) to the of 0.77 ha on average. About particularly during rainfall water
extent of 10-25 t/ha in tropical states 60% cane holdings are in marginal deficit years are lacking, thus
and 7-20 t/ha in sub-tropical states. category having the size of the affecting cane yield levels to a
Similar type of gap i.e., Yield Gap-Ib cane farm less than 0.35 ha. The greater extent.
(the difference of the highest yield small size the cane farm makes the • In this sequential system,
level obtained in a cane growing adoption of costly improved sugarcane planting gets delayed to
district and the state average level) sugarcane production technology April and further up to May.
could be considered as it is difficult in these holdings. Delayed planting produces lesser
comparison to a situation which is • Sugarcane crop in sub-tropical tillers.

Table 3. Yield gap analysis in sugarcane

State Potential FLD District highest State Av. Yield Yield Yield Yield Diff. in
yield yield** Av. yield yield# Gap-Ia Gap-Ib Gap IIa Gap IIb FLD &
(PY)* obtained (DHY) (SAY) (FLD-SAY) (DHY-SAY) (PY-FLD) (PY-SAY) DHY
Maharashtra 182 101.5 102.9 76.91 24.59 25.99 80.5 105.09 -1.4
Gujarat 140 88.49 88.43 72.03 16.46 16.4 51.51 67.97 0.06
Karnataka 150 96.5 110.5 85.66 10.84 24.84 53.5 64.34 -14
Tamil Nadu 194 112.93 131.61 102.64 10.29 28.97 81.07 91.36 -18.68
Andhra Pradesh 169 95.92 99.82 77.86 18.06 21.96 73.08 91.14 -3.9
Uttar Pradesh 173 73.21 76.3 58.97 14.24 17.33 99.79 114.03 -3.09
Bihar 97 66.08 68.54 46 20.08 22.54 30.92 51 -2.46
Haryana 111 81.97 78.83 67.7 14.27 11.13 29.03 43.3 3.14
Punjab 83 71.19 74.72 63.68 7.51 11.04 11.81 19.32 -3.53
Note: # stands for the period of QE year 2014-15; Districts having less than 3,000 ha area under sugarcane were not considered for
the calculation of the yield gaps.
Source: For *(Yadav et.al., 2008 and Vision 2020, SBI, Coimbatore) and **(PC Unit, AICRP on Sugarcane)

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February 2017 67
• Ratooning of crop is a common storability, post-harvest deterio- waterlogged and drought affected
practice (around 50% of the total ration, restricted buyers, soils leading to poor yield.
cane produced is through ratoon government high regulations, less
crop. Disease and pest problem is of ICT are the limitations in SUMMARY
also higher. The stubble sprouting sugarcane marketing which Front line demonstrations of
in low temperature conditions is become entirely different from potential technologies need to be
poor and as a result, the ratoons that of other crops. carried out in those districts in all
have poor stand from the cane • The soil moisture status at major cane growing states where the
crop harvested in December and germination is usually low in sub- average yields of the district are high
January. Despite this, ratooning tropics which results in poor compared to the FLD yield levels.
brings down the cost of sprouting of buds and drought Those areas having less yield levels
production and leads to early during formative phase leading to compared to state averages need to
maturing which helps the factories poor tillering and elongation of be identified for addressing resource
to start early. In fact, the farmers shoots. Under sub-tropical constraints by giving emphasis on
generally neglect the ratoon condition, narrow time span is microirrigation, healthy seed,
crop, which brings the yield available during both autumn nutrients and greater input of
down. (October-November) and spring extension, while areas having higher
• Poor socio-economic condition of (February-March) for germination cane yields be identified for infusing
the farmers and lack of to take place as both the seasons greater inputs of technological
infrastructure development are followed by extremes of low advancements through demons-
coupled with inadequate extension (<10°C) and high temperature trations and other innovative
strategies result into low (>35°C), respectively. Under extension methods.
consumption of fertilizers, plant intensive cropping, sugarcane is
protection and other inputs being grown on unfavorable soil 1
Principal Scientsist (Ag. Economics), 2Director
required in time. Bulkiness, non- conditions such as saline-alkali,

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68 February 2017