Question : Cultivation of Sugarcane

(a) whether the sowing area for sugarcane is decreasing in some States of the country;

(b) if so, the State/UT-wise details of the sowing area available during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;

(c) the State/UT-wise and year-wise details of sugarcane produce during this period;

(d) whether any effective measures have been taken/ proposed to be taken to increase the sowing area of sugarcane and its production; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (c): The sowing area of Sugarcane keeps fluctuating over the years, it depends on farmers’ preference, shift of area to other competing crops, agro- climatic conditions, inter-crop relative profitability, irrigation facilities, resources available and timely payment of cane dues to farmers by the sugar mills.

During the last 3 years and current year i.e. 2017-18 to 2020-21 the sown area under sugarcane shows a fluctuating trend at national level and in most of the states except Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Uttar Pradesh.

State/UT-wise details of area sown and production of sugarcane crop during last three years and current year i.e. from 2017-18 to 2020-21 is given at Annexure.


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(d) to (e): To enhance area, production and productivity of sugarcane in the country, the Government has been implementing Sugarcane Development Programme under National Food Security Mission - Commercial Crops (NFSM-CC) in 13 major sugarcane growing states of the country viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh from 2014-15. Under this scheme thrust has been given on transfer of technology through frontline demonstrations and training in order to extend benefits to the farmers.

The states can also support Sugarcane Development Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLCC).

Besides, the Central Government also fixes Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane, well in advance of sowing season, to induce farmers to sow sugarcane. FRP is a minimum benchmark price below which sugar mills cannot purchase cane from the cane growers.