Sustainable Sugarcane Industry
Sugarcane cultivation in India has expanded in the last few decades. Factors that helped India become the second-largest producer of sugar worldwide are the policies that incentivize production- A minimum price Guaranteed sales of sugarcane Public distribution of sugar Factors are paralysing the entire sugar sector. rainfall deficit, depleting groundwater table, delayed payment to cane farmers, lower net income (for the farmer) compared to other crops, labour shortage and increasing cost of labour, followed by Covid-19 pandemic As sugarcane is a cash crop, rectifying issues that grapple the sugarcane industry remains critical for Indian agriculture and doubling farmer’s income. Associated Challenges With Sugarcane Industry 1.Pricing Controls: In order to plug the demand-supply mismatch, the union & state governments have been controlling sugar prices through various policy intervention...