Problems and suggestions of sugarcane growers in south Gujarat: An empirical study

Introduction

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) holds a prominent position in India's agricultural landscape, serving as one of the most important commercial crops due to its significant contribution to the rural livelihood and national economy. With 48.75 lakh ha under cultivation, producing 399.25 million tonnes and with a productivity of 82,205 kg/ha (Anonymous,2022a) [4] . India has the largest area under sugarcane cultivation globally and ranks second in global sugarcane production (Anonymous, 2024) [2] . The crop contributes around 7.00 per cent to the total value of agricultural output in the country (Anonymous, 2018) [2] . In 2021-22, India emerged as the world's largest producer and consumer of sugar and the second largest exporter (Anonymous, 2022b) [5] . The sugar industry is one of the India's foremost agro-based sectors, supporting the livelihood of approximately 5 crore farmers and their families (Anonymous, 2020) [3] . Sugarcane is the first choice of farmers wherever geographical and climatic conditions favour its cultivation (Anonymous, 2024) [7] . Its versatility is reflected in its wide range of usesthickened cane juice is processed into sugar, gur(jaggery) and khand sari. Two-third of the total cane production in India is utilised for making jaggery and khand sari, while the remaining is processed in sugar factories (Anonymous, 2024) [2] . Gujarat is one of the renowned sugarcane producing state of our country. In 2021-22, the state ranked fifth in terms of area under cultivation, with 2.23 lakh ha producing 17.44 million tonnes of cane with a productivity of 71.16 t/ha (Anonymous, 2022c) [6] . Within Gujarat, South Gujarat is particularly significant for sugarcane cultivation due to its favourable agro-climatic conditions, fertile soils and wellestablished sugar processing infrastructure. Despite its economic importance, sugarcane growers face several problems in sugarcane cultivation that hinder productivity and profitability. Recent studies highlighted various problems faced by the sugarcane growers including rates offered by sugar factories being non-remunerative, no timely harvesting by sugar factory crew, scarcity of labour, and untimely and inadequate availability of irrigation water from canal and river (Desai, 2023) [10] , high labour charges during harvesting, lack of transport facilities and disposal of produce/high transportation charges, uneven agro-climatic conditions, and lack of knowledge of current advances for sugarcane cultivation (Agarwal et al., 2024) [1] , lack of proper information about sugarcane cultivation practices, high cost of inputs like fertilizers and insecticides, and irregular supply of electricity for irrigation (Chauhan, 2024) [8] , and high input cost of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and quality setts, along with price volatility and unstable prices in the market (Dahatonde et al., 2025) [9] . Understanding these problems from farmer's perspective is essential to design effective, region specific strategies that enhance farm income and ensure the sustainability of the sector. In the light of above background, the present study focussed on identifying the key problems faced by sugarcane growers in South Gujarat and documenting their practical suggestions for improvement. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, extension agencies and researchers to formulate targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the efficiency, profitability and resilience of sugarcane cultivation in the region.

Objective

To identify the problems and to seek suggestions from sugarcane growers to overcome the problems

Methodology

The present study was undertaken in the South Gujarat region of Gujarat state using ex-post-facto research design. According to Kerlinger (1976) [11] , an ex-post-facto research design is any systematic empirical enquiry in which the independent variables have not been directly manipulated because they have already occurred. Two sampling techniques were employed in the investigation. First, purposive sampling technique was followed for selection of the districts, followed by multistage random sampling technique was followed for the selection of talukas, villages and respondents. Bharuch, Surat and Tapi districts were purposively selected as they have maximum area under sugarcane cultivation in South Gujarat. In the first stage of multistage random sampling, two talukas from each district were selected randomly. In the second stage, four villages from each taluka were chosen randomly. In the final stage, 10 sugarcane growers from each village were selected randomly. Thus, total sample size constituted 240 respondents. The schematic representation of sampling procedure is given in Fig. 1. In this study, problems were operationally defined as the difficulties or obstacles faced by sugarcane growers in sugarcane cultivation that affect their production and income while, suggestions referred to the solutions proposed by the sugarcane growers for addressing these problems. Data were collected using a well-structed and pre-tested interview schedule through personal interview method.

Respondents were asked open-ended questions to identify their problems and to elicit their suggestions for overcoming them. All the problems and suggestions narrated by the respondents were recorded in abstract form in the interview schedule, consolidated into a comprehensive list, and the frequency of each was calculated and expressed as percentage. Further, based on frequency and percentage, ranks were assigned to each problem and suggestion.

Results and Discussion a) Problems faced by sugarcane growers

Problems refer to the various obstacles and limitations faced by sugarcane growers in sugarcane cultivation. Identifying these problems is essential for developing practical and effective solutions. The problems faced by sugarcane growers in sugarcane cultivation are presented in Table 1 and Fig. 2. From the data presented in Table 1 and Fig. 2, it is evident that major problems expressed by majority of sugarcane growers were shortage of labour for performing cultivation practices (74.17%) followed by difficulty of applying pesticides and fertilizers due to tall crop (68.75%), high cost of fertilizers (64.58%), incidence of pest and diseases (61.25%), irregular supply of canal water for irrigation (58.75%), high labour cost (57.08%) and low price offered for sugarcane produce by sugar factory (54.58%) which were ranked I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII, respectively. Half (50.00%) of the growers reported irregular supply of electricity, which was ranked VIII.

Other problems faced by sugarcane growers included complex process of loan sanctioning (33.33%), decline in sugarcane yield due to change in climate (31.25%), crop damage due to rat infestation (10.83%) and destruction of sugarcane crops due to pig intrusion (5.00%) which were ranked IX, X, XI and XII, respectively.

b) Suggestions given by sugarcane growers

The suggestion refers to one's opinion which can be used as a solution to overcome the problem. In this present investigation, the sugarcane growers were asked to indicate the possible suggestions to overcome the problems face by them. The suggestions given by sugarcane growers are presented in Table 2 and Fig. 3. From the results presented in Table 2 and Fig. 3, it is evident that the most important suggestion indicated by sugarcane growers was that sugar factories should provide costly and automated farm machinery for labour-intensive farm operations (67.50%) which ranked I, followed by increase the subsidy for fertilizers (62.50%), training in Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) should be provided (60.42%), and timely supply of canal water for irrigation (55.83%) and were ranked II, III and IV, respectively. While, other important suggestions stated by majority of sugarcane growers included increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane (54.17%), sugar factories should conduct a cost of cultivation survey and price fixation should be based on the survey results (53.33%) and strengthening Custom Hiring Centres in villages to provide access to high-tech implements and equipment in villages (51.67%) and ranked V, VI and VII, respectively. Further, sugarcane growers suggested increase the electricity supply hours (47.92%), simplify loan procedures and ensure quick sanction (32.08%) and promotion of climate-resilient sugarcane varieties to maintain yield during heat and water shortage (29.58%) and were ranked VIII, IX and X, respectively. A meagre percentage of growers suggested rat control should be implemented on community basis (10.42%) and installation of electric fencing to prevent crop damage due to pigs (4.17%) which were ranked XI and XII, respectively.

Conclusion

Sugarcane growers are facing numerous problems in the selected districts of South Gujarat region. The major problems identified in the study included shortage of labour for performing cultivation practices, difficulty of applying pesticides and fertilizers due to tall crop, high cost of fertilizers, incidence of pest and diseases, irregular supply of canal water for irrigation, high labour cost, low price offered for sugarcane produce by sugar factory and irregular supply of electricity. To address these problems, the important suggestions expressed by the sugarcane growers were that sugar factories should provide costly and automated farm machinery for labour-intensive farm operations, increase the for fertilizers, training in Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) should be provide, and timely supply of canal water for irrigation, increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane, sugar factories should conduct a cost of cultivation survey and price fixation should be based on the survey results and strengthening Custom Hiring Centres in villages to provide access to high-tech implements and equipment in villages.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors acknowledge the support of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat for this study. Special gratitude is extended to the sugarcane growers who served as respondents and cooperated in the survey. Further, sincere thanks to Department of Education, Government of Gujarat for providing financial assistance under "Scheme Of Developing High quality research (SHODH).

References

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