Sugarcane Production In India

Context:  

In 2021-2022, India surpassed Brazil to become the world’s largest sugar producer, reaching an all-time high production of 359 lakh tonnes.

• The achievement is marred by concerns over the sustainability of the sugar industry due to dwindling resources.

About Sugarcane Crop:

• Sugarcane is a giant tropical grass from the family Graminaceae, whose stalk has the particular capacity to store a crystallizable sugar, sucrose.
• It is the main source of sugar, Gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses.    
• Top Sugarcane Producing States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar.     

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Status of Sugarcane Sector in India:

• The Largest Sugarcane Producer: India has emerged as the largest producer of sugarcane in the world, surpassing Brazil during the 2021-22.
• The Second Largest Sugar Exporter: India has consistently been the second-largest exporter of sugar, following Brazil. 

The excess sugar production in India can be attributed to several factors:

• Domestic Demand: India is the world’s largest consumer of sugar, necessitating high production levels to meet its huge domestic demand.
• Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) Scheme: The Central government’s FRP scheme mandates a minimum price that sugar mills must pay to sugarcane farmers. 
  • This policy ensures that farmers receive fair profits for their crops, making sugarcane cultivation an attractive and profitable option for them.
• State Government Subsidies: State governments offer significant subsidies to incentivize sugarcane cultivation. 
• Higher Exports: In 2021-2022, India exported a record 110 lakh tonnes of sugar, seeking to tap into international markets and capitalize on excess production.

Advantages of Increasing Sugar Production:

• Generation of By-Products: Sugar production yields valuable by-products like molasses, bagasse, and press mud, which find applications in producing ethanol, paper, and bio-fertilizers, promoting resource efficiency.
• Ethanol Production and Fuel Blending: Sugar mills can divert excess sugarcane to produce ethanol, which serves as a green fuel. Blending ethanol with petrol reduces crude oil imports, saving foreign exchange.
• Government’s Blending Targets: India has set blending targets of 10% ethanol with petrol by 2022 and 20% by 2025 to promote eco-friendly fuel usage.
• Diversification and Increased Income: Cultivating sugarcane allows farmers to diversify their agricultural activities, providing an opportunity for additional income streams.
• Crop Integration and Diversification: Sugarcane cultivation can be integrated with other crops like vegetables, fruits, and spices, leading to improved soil health, reduced pest and disease pressure, and higher crop yields.

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Excessive sugarcane cultivation impacts groundwater in several ways:

• High Water Consumption: Sugarcane is a resource-intensive cash crop that requires a large amount of water for its cultivation. 
  • In regions where rainfall is insufficient, sugarcane relies heavily on groundwater for irrigation.
  • The top sugarcane-growing states in India face significant water scarcity. 
• Non-Rechargeable Aquifers: Much of the groundwater used for sugarcane cultivation is found in confined aquifers, which are not easily recharged by rainfall, making it a finite and non-renewable resource.
• Large-Scale Water Usage: Producing 100 kg of sugar from one tonne of sugarcane can consume around 2 lakh liters of groundwater for irrigation alone. Additionally, water is needed for industrial sugar manufacturing and refining processes.
• Drought and Groundwater Stress: The top sugarcane-growing states are already prone to drought and face stress on their groundwater resources. 
  • The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reported that a significant portion of its groundwater assessment units in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka were classified as ‘semi-critical,’ ‘critical,’ or ‘over-exploited.’
• Environmental Concerns: Excessive groundwater extraction for sugarcane cultivation can lead to environmental issues such as land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and the drying up of wells and water bodies.

What needs to be done to address the challenges of excessive sugarcane cultivation and its impact on groundwater:

• Correcting Incentives: Assess and modify existing subsidy schemes that favor sugarcane over other crops. Introduce fair and comprehensive subsidies for a variety of crops to encourage diversification, even distribution of cultivation, and equitable income for farmers.
• Promoting Sustainable Practices: Encourage environmentally responsible sugarcane cultivation practices, such as drip irrigation.
  • Drip irrigation reduces sugarcane water consumption by up to 70% compared to flood irrigation.
• Investing in Water-saving Systems: Implement water-saving and management systems like rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and canal irrigation networks to reduce stress on groundwater reserves and utilize alternative water sources for irrigation.
• Enhancing Groundwater Research: Invest in groundwater research to better understand its availability, distribution, and sustainable management. Improved data and mapping can inform better decision-making and resource allocation.
• Prioritizing Sustainability: As India advances in the agricultural sector, prioritize sustainability by integrating eco-friendly practices, promoting crop diversification, and minimizing the strain on natural resources.

News Source: The Hindu