Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh: The latest sugarcane survey shows that the interest of the farmers in growing the crop, which otherwise falls under cash crops, seems to be dwindling. The area under sugarcane cultivation has decreased substantially this season. According to Akbarpur sugar mill’s report, the crop acreage is around 5,700 hectares less than the last crushing season, reported Live Hindustan.
Around 65,000 sugarcane farmers supply their crops to the mill, with about 48,000 of them from Ambedkar Nagar district. During the 2023-24 crushing season, sugarcane was cultivated on 36,700 hectares, and the mill processed around 9.2 million quintals of cane. However, this year, the area under cultivation has shrunk to 31,000 hectares. Last year, sugarcane was sown on 25,000 hectares, while this year, it has been reduced to 21,000 hectares, resulting in a drop of about 4,000 hectares within the district itself.
Arvind Singh, the sugar mill’s cane manager, explained that the red rot disease affecting varieties CO-0238 and CO-0239 is the main reason for the decline in sugarcane acreage. Despite the reduced planting, the goal this year is to increase crushing due to better crop yields.
District Cane Officer Sahab Lal Yadav noted, “This year, the area under sugarcane cultivation is 21,046 hectares. Compared to last year, fewer farmers have sown sugarcane this season. Efforts are being made to encourage farmers to expand the cultivation area. Improved varieties of sugarcane seeds are being provided to them.”
