Sugarcane Cultivation in India: From Field to Feast

Table of Contents

• Introduction to the Sugarcane Industry in India
• Sugarcane Cultivation in India

• • Soil & Climatic Requirements
  • Land Preparation
  • Planting Season and Varieties
  • Intercultural Operations
  • Pest and Disease Management
  • Harvesting and Yield

• Ethanol Production as a Bio-Fuel
• Top Producing States of Sugarcane in India

Introduction to the Sugarcane Industry in India

Sugarcane is one of the primary sources of sugar in India. Its scientific name is Saccharum officinarum L. It is grown as a cash crop, which benefits more than half of the country's population economically. The primary by-products of the sugarcane industry are bagasse and molasses. Sugar juice makes white sugar, brown sugar (khandsari), and jaggery (gur). This is how sugarcane also supports rural and cottage industry which helps in the development of the rural population of the country. The other utilities are Ethanol production and co-generation of electricity in sugar factories which led to self-reliance and sustainability.

India emerges as the world's largest producer and consumer of sugar and the world's 2nd largest exporter of sugar. India has already crossed sugar production of 330 lakh metric tonnes, excluding the diversion of about 43 lakh metric tonnes for ethanol production in 2023. According to IBEF, approximately 5,000 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugarcane were produced in the nation during the sugar season of 2021–2022. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), India exported roughly 35 lakh tonnes of sugar in the 2022-2023 season. The country exported 11 million tonnes of sugar in the 2021-22 season.

Sugarcane Cultivation in India

Soil & Climatic Requirements

Sugarcane best grows on medium-heavy soils when the year-round irrigation available, and it can be grown in lighter soils when adequate drainage systems are provided. However, a well-drained, deep, loamy soil is ideal for sugarcane cultivation. Temperature between 27°C and 33°C is considered the optimum range for sugarcane production.

Land Preparation

The sugarcane fields are prepared by ploughing the land and bringing the soil to fine tilth. Harrowing is done at a shallow depth of 12-15 cm to crush the clods by disc harrow. A rotavator is used to prepare the soil before sowing and planting sugarcane. It mixes, pulverizes and levels the soil. Levelling is essential to ensure uniform crop standards and easy irrigation water movement. Levelling can be done using a laser land leveller.

Planting Season and Varieties

The planting of sugarcane is done based on regions generally known as planting seasons. In Northern India, January-March is the best cane planting season, whereas October-November is considered the best planting month in the Deccan region. The popular varieties are Co 86032 (Nayana) and Co 0238 (Karan 4). Trench Method and Ridge and Furrow are the standard methods of planting.

Intercultural Operations

Mulching: It should be done within a week after planting. It helps to tide over drought, conserves moisture, reduces weed population and minimises shoot borer attacks.

Earthing Up: It is also known as "hilling-up". The first earthing up, or the "partial earthing" up, is done 45 days after planting. In partial earthing-up, a small amount of soil from either side of the furrow is taken and placed around the base of the shoots. The other stage is known as "full earthing up". This stage is done 120 days after planting. During full earthing-up, the soil from the ridge in between is entirely removed and placed near the cane on either side.

Intercropping: Intercropping can be done based on crop selection, variety and season. In southern India, sugarcane is usually rotated with rice. In north India, sugarcane is generally grown after the harvest of cotton, maize, sorghum, paddy, toria, potato, pea, wheat, etc.

Propping: Propping is done to avoid the lodging of a cane. It is the method of tying the leaves together using the bottom dry and green leaves. It is done at the age of 210 days of the crop.

Pest and Disease Management

Harvesting and Yield

Sugarcane crop matures within 10-12 months in north India and 12-16 months in south India, depending upon the variety and season of the crop. The crop should be harvested when the sucrose content value reaches a minimum of 16.5% with 85% juice purity.

In north India, a good crop yields about 80-100 tonnes per hectare, but it may yield more than 150 tonnes per hectare in south India.

Ethanol Production as a Biofuel

The country's primary source of ethanol production is via the sugarcane-sugar-molasses route. This provides a better economy by selling sugar, and molasses becomes the by-product of the sugar. Ethanol is mainly produced from molasses, but other raw materials like sugarcane juice, sugar, sugar syrup, and damaged food grains can also be used. The Government of India has introduced the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) to promote using ethanol, a renewable and environment-friendly fuel, in petrol. The aim is to reduce the import of fuels from other countries, conserve foreign exchange, and increase value addition in the sugar industry.

• As per PIB, the target of 10% blending of ethanol has already been achieved, and the public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have started selling E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol across the country.
• According to PIB, The Government has set a target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol under the EBP programme by Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26.

Top Producing States of Sugarcane in India

The sugarcane industry in India holds an utmost importance as cultivating sugarcane allows farmers to diversify their agricultural activities and increase their income.