Rain deficit likely to hit sugarcane and sugar production in Maharashtra

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Puneknown as the sugar center in Maharashtra, is facing a water crisis with only 19 percent of the water remaining in the dams according to state government data. Except for Konkan district, other parts of the state have experienced a lack of precipitation this season. While experts expected the lack of rain to continue until mid-July, sugar cane Farmers are worried.

Tatya Chirsat from Karad village in Satara district said the irrigation department is not allowed to use water for irrigation due to the depletion of the water level in the dams. He said that the lack of water will affect the growth of cane and will also have an impact on the rate of sugar extraction.

Sugarcane estimates

KJ Chavan of Kolhapur says pre-monsoon rains followed by monsoon showers are helping the sugarcane crop, but overall sugarcane cultivation and production is likely to be affected this year. He added that farmers are not willing to go plant the new sugarcane crop due to lack of rain.

The lower sugarcane crop last season was attributed to the higher share of the rattan crop and the uneven distribution of precipitation according to industry players. According to state government officials, total sugarcane cultivation this season is likely to increase by 40,000 hectares compared to the last sugar season, but the late monsoon may alter these estimates.

Failed scheme

The Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has stated in its previous reports that sugarcane cultivation in Maharashtra uses nearly 70 percent of the state’s irrigation water.

In 2017, the state government took the decision to make drip irrigation compulsory for the sugarcane crop after 2019. But the plan remained on paper due to the lukewarm response from farmers.