Sugarcane farming in Krishna district has seen a sharp decline over the years, and farmers claim they are dealing with escalating production costs. The area under cultivation has fallen from 17,000 hectares in 2018-19 to just 3,200 hectares in 2024-25. This reduction coincided with the closure of major sugar factories, including the Challapalli Lakshmipuram factory in 2020 and the Hanuman Junction factory in 2014. The Vuyyuru Sugar Factory, which needs 8.10 lakh tonnes of sugarcane to operate at full capacity, has been functioning at half capacity for the past two years due to lower yields and inadequate supply.
According to the news report by The Times of India, farmers investing ₹1.30 lakh per acre for cultivation—75% of whom are tenants—struggle with financial burdens, high rent demands from landowners, and limited access to financial aid. Tenant farmers and stakeholders are urging the govt to improve advisory pricing, provide subsidies, and offer incentives to ensure the survival of sugarcane farming and factory operations. “We’ve cultivated sugarcane for nearly three decades, but this is the worst crisis we’ve faced. The govt must step in to help,” said Y Rajagopal, a farmer from Kankipadu.
