Sugarcane occupies about 2.7% of the
total cultivated area (Source: ISMA Website accessed on May 16, 2005)
and it is one of the most important cash crops in the country. The area
under sugarcane has gradually increased over the years mainly because of
much larger diversion of land from other crops to sugarcane by the
farmers for economic reasons. The sugarcane area has, however, declined
in the year 2003-04 mainly due to drought and pest attacks. Following
table shows area under sugarcane farming and total can production.
SUGARCANE AREA AND
PRODUCTION
FROM 1980-1981 TO 2000-2001 & UPTO 2003-2004
| Year |
Area under sugarcane
(Million hectares) |
Sugarcane Production
(MMT) |
| 1980-81 |
2.7 |
154.3 |
| 1990-91 |
3.7 |
241.1 |
| 1999-'00 |
4.2 |
299.2 |
| 2001-02 |
4.4 |
298.4 |
| 2002-03 |
4.3 |
281.6 |
| 2003-04 |
3.9 |
221.2 |
| 2004-05 |
3.7 |
201.9 |
(Source: National federation of
Co-operative Sugar Factories, Energy Lines (2005))
From a level of 154 MMT in
1980-1981, the sugarcane production increased to 241 MMT in 1990-1991
and further to 296 MMT in 2000-2001. Since then it has been hovering
around 300 MMT until few years. In the season 2003-2004, however,
sugarcane production declined to 236 MMT mainly due to drought. (Source:
ISMA Website accessed on May 16, 2005)
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