Sugarcane is a widely grown Cash Crop in India. It offers employment opportunities to over ten lakh people involved in this industry directly or indirectly. There are two broad agro-climatic regions for sugarcane cultivation: tropical and subtropical. As a result, India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world.
The total sugarcane production in India for 2022-23 was at 4942.2 lakh tons. This implies that a significant population is involved in Sugarcane Cultivation. So, to answer the question of which state is the largest producer of sugarcane in India, we have discussed a list of states that are the highest sugarcane producing state in India.
Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugarcane producing state in India, with 2252.2 lakh tons, and it has overtaken Maharashtra, which used to hold the top position in sugarcane production in the country.
The districts with significant contributions to the production are Kanpur, Prayagraj, Lucknow and Varanasi involved in cultivating sugarcane varieties like Co 05009 and Co 0239.
The Ganga and Yamuna rivers, with their fertile plains, offer ideal conditions for sugarcane production, thus making Uttar Pradesh one of the most sugarcane producing state in India.
Maharashtra is second highest sugarcane producer, with a sugarcane production of 1239.7 lakh tons. The state's rich black soil in the Deccan plateau region offers an ideal cultivation environment for sugarcane.
Districts like Satara, Ahmednagar, and Pune contribute annually to the state's sugarcane production by cultivating two popular varieties, Co 86032 and CoM 0265.
Karnataka produced 624.6 lakh tons of sugarcane in 2022-23, ranking it third in the list of leading sugarcane producing state in India.
The major sugarcane producing districts in the state are Hassan, Tumkur, and Chikmagalur involved in cultivation of sugarcane varieties like SNK 09227 and SNK 09211 in the state's favourable winter season.
Tamil Nadu produced around 169.2 lakh tons of sugarcane in 2022-23. Dindigul and Nilgiris are the districts in the state that produce most of the sugarcane. The major contributing regions are Erode, Thanjavur and Coimbatore.
Majorly CoC 13339 variety of sugarcane is cultivated in the state. This variety enjoys the fertile plain of the Vaigai and Cauvery rivers.
Bihar contributed 120.6 lakh tons of sugarcane production in India. Major sugarcane producing districts of the state are Muzaffarpur, Patna and Bhagalpur.
The regions such as Saran, East and West Champaran are the primary sugarcane cultivators involved in the cultivation of varieties like Co89029 and CoLk 12209.
Gujrat made its name in the list by producing 146.9 lakh tons of sugarcane. Districts like Navsari, Surat, and Saurashtra significantly contribute to the state's sugarcane.
Further, regions like Vadodara and Bharuch offer thriving sugarcane production. Sugarcane varieties like CoN 07072 (GNS-8) and CoN 09072 (GNS-9) are majorly cultivated in the state. The State Seed Sub Committee released these varieties.
Haryana produced 88.6 lakh tons of sugarcane for 2022-23. Districts like Faridabad and Gurgaon majorly contribute to the state's sugarcane production.
The sugarcane variety CoH 160 (CoH 09262) is cultivated in the state. Regions such as Rohtak, Sonipat, and Karnal are the major contributors to sugarcane production.
Punjab is also a leading sugarcane producer in the country, with 76.4 lakh tons of sugarcane production in 2022-23. The state’s alluvial fertile lands along with well-established irrigation system favours sugarcane farming.
Jalandhar and Ludhiana are the major contributors to sugarcane production in the state. Sugarcane varieties like Co 312 and Co 290 are cultivated in the state.
With 31.2 lakh tons of sugarcane production, Andhra Pradesh is also one of the largest sugar- producing state in India. It offers the necessary fertile land, which is positively influenced by the Godavari and Krishna rivers.
Districts like Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool are the major sugarcane producers in the state and cultivate varieties like CoV 09356 (Bharani) and CoA 92081 (87A 298), which dominates the state’s sugarcane production.
Uttarakhand is tenth in this list of the most sugarcane producing state in India, producing 37.6 lakh tons. Haridwar district is the major contributor to sugarcane production and produces varieties like CoPant 84211 (CVRC) and CoPant 84212 (SVRC) majorly.
The nation has seen significant growth in sugarcane production in past few years, which is expected to grow. The industry substantially contributes to the nation's economy and offers employment opportunities to over ten lakh people. It further fuels the sugar industry as the raw material, thus indirectly contributing to economic growth. These major sugarcane producing states are crucial in fulfilling the growing demand for sugarcane and related products. They will Directly or indirectly support the livelihood of various people involved in this industry.
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane in India.