Maharashtra Re-emerges as Top Sugar Producer
Why in News?
Maharashtra has once again the top sugar producer state in India after five years. It has overtaken Uttar Pradesh in sugar production.
- The overall production of sugar by Maharashtra accounts for 138 lakh tonnes for the year 2021-22.
- The total sugar produced by the Uttar Pradesh in the year 2021-22 accounts for 105 lakh tonnes.
What are the Reasons for the Huge Production of Sugar in Maharashtra?
- Abundant Supply of Water:
- Sugarcane is a water intensive crop which needs a huge water supply which farmers from Maharashtra were getting properly through rainfall, water reservoirs, network of canals and from groundwater.
- Maharashtra has been receiving more than sufficient rainwater since 2019 during the south-west monsoon season.
- Groundwater aquifers and other reservoirs were filled by water due to sufficient rainfall. These sources of water play a key role in agricultural production.
- Underreporting of Cane Production:
- Data regarding actual production of the sugarcane in the state of Maharashtra was not quite accurate.
- Keeping this in mind the concerned administration tried to make corrections in the recorded data of the sugarcane production.
- This ultimately resulted in increased acreage under the sugarcane production from 11.42 lakh hectare to 12.4 lakh hectares.
- Thus, Maharashtra harnessed the benefits from increased acreage under sugarcane in 2021-22.
Why did Sugar Production in Uttar Pradesh Decline?
- Uttar Pradesh has become the largest ethanol producer because a large amount of sugarcane production in Uttar Pradesh diverted toward the production of ethanol.
- It has been estimated that 12.60 lakh tonnes equivalent of sugar from cane have been diverted for making ethanol in the year 2021-22 compared to 7.19 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 and 4.81 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 and 0.31 lakh tonnes in 2018-19.
- Uttar Pradesh also has achieved the highest blending of ethanol in petrol ratio among all states.
- It has been estimated that 12.60 lakh tonnes equivalent of sugar from cane have been diverted for making ethanol in the year 2021-22 compared to 7.19 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 and 4.81 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 and 0.31 lakh tonnes in 2018-19.
- Excess rain with water logging problems are associated with the state of Uttar Pradesh which incurred heavy loss of sugarcane crops.
- Majority of the land in sugarcane area in Uttar Pradesh(87%) is planted under a single variety of sugarcane (Co-0238). This variety is not a high yield variety of the sugarcane.
- Adverse impact of red rot fungal disease on sugarcane crop is a severe cause for the decline of sugarcane production in Uttar Pradesh.
- Co-0238 variety of the sugarcane is highly susceptible to the red rot fungal diseases.
- It should be replaced by the new varieties, such as Co-0118 and Co-15023 because both of them are resistant to red rot fungal disease.
Sugarcane About
- Temperature: Between 21-27°C with hot and humid climate.
- Rainfall: Around 100-150 cm.
- Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil.
- Top Sugarcane Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > Karnataka > Tamil Nadu > Bihar.
- India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.
- It can be grown on all varieties of soils ranging from sandy loam to clay loam given these soils should be well drained.
- It needs manual labour from sowing to harvesting.
- It is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses.
- Scheme for Extending Financial Assistance to Sugar Undertakings (SEFASU) and National Policy on Biofuels are two of the government initiatives to support sugarcane production and sugar industry.
Ethanol Blending:
- Ethanol: It is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
- Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP): It is aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports, cutting carbon emissions and boosting farmers’ incomes.
- Blending Target: The Government of India has advanced the target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025 from 2030.