Constraints Faced by the Sugarcane Growers in Sugarcane Cultivation

N.G.Vaidya 1, , Kapse, P.S. 2 and R.P.Kadam 3

1.	PG Scholar, Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, VNMKV, Parbhani
2.	Associate Professor, Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, VNMKV, Parbhani
3.	Head, Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, VNMKV, Parbhani
……………………………………………………………………………………..……………………..

Abstract

The present study was conducted to study the constraints faced by sugarcane growers in the cultivation of sugarcane and to gather their suggestions for addressing these constraints. The objectives of the study are to find out the constraints faced by sugarcane growers in the cultivation of sugarcane and to gather their suggestions for addressing these constraints. The study was carried out in the Buldana district of the Vidarbha region. The findings of the study revealed 12 significant situational constraints, with irregular electricity supply, inadequate irrigation water timing, wind damage to sugarcane in Oct/Nov, delayed cane transportation, biased treatment from factory officers, fertilizer shortages, poor-quality manure, absence of nearby contact offices, labor shortages, lack of village-level equipment, and regional politics being the most prominent issues. The study also identified seven notable financial constraints, including high fertilizer costs, instalment-based factory payments, expensive pesticides, costly sugarcane sets, inadequate finance for inputs, cumbersome loan procedures. The results highlighted five key technological constraints, such as insufficient knowledge about irrigation water management, sugarcane production technology, insecticide application (80.00%), lack of technical guidance, and limited farmer training at the village level. Respondents offered valuable suggestions, including advocating for electricity supply for irrigation, and government-provided crop insurance.

INTRODUCTION

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important commercial crop of India. Sugarcane and sugar beet are used for large scale production of sugar in the world. In India, Sugarcane is grown as a Kharif Crop. Uttar Pradesh has the largest area almost 50 per cent of the sugarcane area in the country, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab. Sugarcane production is also highest in U.P. followed by Maharashtra. In India, the world’s largest sugar producer and consumer, sugarcane production continued upward trend during the 2018-19 following a significant increase in production in 2017-18, with production crossing 400 million tonnes. Favourable weather conditions, along with acreage expansion, higher returns relative to competing crops and high sugar recovery particularly in Uttar Pradesh, have led to a record production in 2018-19. Uttar Pradesh, the largest producer of sugarcane in the country, has replaced Maharashtra as top producer of sugar due to significant improvement in cane yield and sugar recovery with introduction of a new improved variety of sugarcane in the State. The objectives of the study are to find out the constraints faced by sugarcane growers in the cultivation of sugarcane and to gather their suggestions for addressing these constraints. 

Methodology

The current investigation was carried out in eight randomly selected villages from two talukas within the Buldana district of the Vidarbha region. A total of 120 respondents were chosen as the study's sample from the selected villages. An ex-post facto research design was employed for this study, and data were collected using a pretested interview schedule. Statistical methods and tests, such as frequency and percentage analysis, were utilized to analyze the data.

Results and Discussion

1.	Constraints faced by the sugarcane growers

Table 1: Constraints faced by sugarcane grower in sugarcane cultivation 		(N=120)

Sr.
No.	 Constraints	Frequency	Percentage	
	Situational constraints			
1	Non availability of labour for intercultural operation	89	74.16	
2	Shortage of fertilizers in the market	85	70.83	
3	Inadequacy of irrigation water at proper time	75	62.50	
4	Non availability of good quality manure	80	66.66	
5	Non availability of quality sugarcane sets	79	65.83	
6	Non availability of equipment at village Level	82	68.33	
7	Irregular supply of electricity	97	80.33	
8	Non availability of storage facilities for sugarcane product in village level.	84	70.00	
9	Delay in transportation of harvested cane by factory	63	52.50	
10	Non available of contact office near to village	74	61.66	
11	Government not provide crop insurance for sugarcane.	81	67.50	
12	Proper harvesting schedule of sugarcane should be provided.	72	60.00	
	Financial constraints			
1	Lack of finance to purchase sugarcane sets, fertilizers and other inputs	95	79.16	
2	High cost of sugarcane sets	94	78.33	
3	High cost of fertilizers	96	80.00	
4	High cost of pesticides	86	71.66	
5	Time consuming procedure for getting the loan	92	76.66	
6	Payment by factory through installments so it is not profitable	91	75.83	
7	Non remunerative price given by factory for sugarcane	93	77.50	
	Technological constraints			
1	Lack of knowledge about Sugarcane production technology	95	79.17	
2	Lack of knowledge about use of water at critical stages of application	105	87.50	
3	Lack of knowledge about spraying of insecticides	96	80.00	
4	Non availability of technical devices	93	77.50	
5	Non availability of training al village level	90	75.00	

Data from Table 1 indicated that there were 12 important situational constraints faced by the respondents. Major situational constraints expressed by the respondents are irregular supply of electricity 80.33 per cent, Inadequacy of irrigation water at proper time 62.50 per cent, Heavy winds in Oct/Nov lodges sugarcane 70.00 per cent, Delay in transportation of harvested cane by factory 52.5 per cent, Biased treatment from factory officers for harvesting and crushing 60.00 per cent, Shortage of Fertilizers in the market 70.83 per cent, Non availability of good quality manure 66.66 per cent, Non available of contact office near to village 61.66 per cent, Non availability of labour for intercultural operation 74.16 per cent, Non availability of equipment at village Level 68.33 per cent and Regional politics 67.50 per cent were among the constraints faced by the sugarcane grower in that order. The findings are in line with those reported by Chavhan (2016).

Table 1 further reported that there were seven important financial constraints as faced by the sugarcane growers among them, high cost of fertilizers 80 per cent, payment by factory through instalment 75.83 per cent, high cost of pesticides 71.66 per cent, high cost of sugarcane sets 78.33 per cent, lack of finance to purchase sugarcane sets, fertilizers and other inputs 79.16 per cent, time consuming procedure for getting loan 76.66 per cent and Low price given by factory were some of the important financial constraints faced by the sugarcane growers.

From Table 1, it is revealed that, the five important technological constraints faced by the sugarcane growers were about lack of knowledge about the use of irrigation water and its critical stage application 87.5 per cent, lack of knowledge about sugarcane production technology 79.17 per cent, lack of knowledge about spraying of insecticide 80 .00 per cent, lack of technical guidance 77.5 per cent and lack of farmers training at village level 75 per cent, respectively.

2. Suggestions of sugarcane growers about the training programmes.

Table 2: Distribution of the sugarcane growers on the basis of their suggestions to overcome their constraints.	(N=120)

Sr. No.	Suggestions to overcome their constraints	Frequency	Percentage	
1	Availability of storage facilities for sugarcane product in village level.	95	79.16	
2	Regular supply of electricity for irrigation.	118	98.33	
3	Digital device should be developed by SAU or VSI for identify proper stage of irrigation to sugarcane.	80	66.66	
4	Government provide market at village level.	88	73.33	
5	Proper	harvesting	schedule	of	sugarcane
should be provided.	85	70.83	
6	Government should be fix rate of sugarcane.	98	81.66	
7	Government	should provide	crop insurance for sugarcane.	105	87.50	

It is reported from Table 2 that most of the sugarcane growers 98.33 per cent expressed to suggested that supply electricity for irrigation while 87.50 per cent of them suggested that government provide crop insurance for sugarcane suggested by 81.66 per cent of them respondent. government should be fix rate of sugarcane. requirement of storage facility and market at village level for sugarcane were suggested by 79.16 per cent and 73.33 per cent of them respondent Whereas 70.83 per cent and 66.66 per cent of them were suggested. Proper harvesting schedule of sugarcane and availability of technical device.

The findings are in line with results reported by Chavhan (2016), Mohit Kumar et al. (2020) and Siddu Hanabar (2021).

ReferenceS

Chavhan, M.R (2016) Training need of sugarcane grower. (unpublished master`s thesis) Dr. PDKV. Akola. 

Mohit Kumar, H.C. Singh and Arun Kumar Rajbhar (2020). Study on constraints faced by the sugarcane growers in Western Uttar Pradesh, Plant Archives Vol. 20 pp. 1885-1888. 

Siddu Hanabar, Y. N. Havaldar, K. V. Ashalatha, N. L. Pavithra and Anand (2021). Constraints in the Cultivation and Marketing of Sugarcane in the District of Belagavi, Karnataka. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci . 10 (02): 2060-2064