Sugarcane is one of the biggest seasonal non-food crops. The overall yield of sugarcane depends on some basic elementary factors of seasonal cultivation.
Brazil is on first place that produce most sugarcane yield in the world. India follow them with 25 M Metric tons.
Let's understand the sugarcane yield in India per acre of land.
Sugarcane yield per acre in USA
- The average height of sugarcane plant- 12 feet
- Total cuttings sow in per acre land- 80,000 to 90,000 plants
- The line to line distance of each plant- 20 cm
- Plant to plant distance of each plant- 25 cm
- The average weight of each plant- 2kg/stem portion of sugarcane
- Sugarcane yield per square meter- 20 plants
- Yield per acre- 75,000 to 80,000 plants
- The average weight of yield(with green portion) per acre-100 to 150 tons
- After possible mortality rate- 70 to 80 tons
The above data shows the ideal and potential yield from one acre land of sugarcane cultivation.
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Practically, on average, 40 to 50 quintals of sugarcane produce on one- acre of land.
The major reasons those affect the potential yield of sugarcane are chosen fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, way of cultivation, rain, soil, and proper care.
Investment in sugarcane cultivation per acre
- Sugarcane cuttings cost- US$300
- Irrigation water- US$200(Including light cost)
- Compost cost- US$350
- Labor cost- US$300
Total investment cost- US$1,150
Profit in sugarcane cultivation per acre
- Value of per plant- US$ 1
- Value of one quintal sugarcane- US$7/quintals
- Value of total yield per acre- US$ 2500 to US$3000
- Net profit per acre in India- US$1900
Hence, from one acre land, a farmer can earn US$1800 to US$1900 if every possible need they have and nature help them on their dependency.
How to increase sugarcane production?
It is noticed that every year, most of the sugarcane farmers don't get enough profit on sugarcane cultivation, despite their primary selection of crop is sugarcane in the particular season.
According to local researchers and experts, sugarcane cultivation is not profitable for farmers as much as they do hard work.
Reasons of loss in sugarcane production
Low market value
According to local allowed markets data, a full-grown sugarcane average price is 0.10. For 1 quintal, USD7 is the average regulated price.
It means to get 270 rupees from sugarcane cultivation, an average 40x25 square meter area requires for the next 8 to 10 months. Just 270 to 300 INR on a 40x25 square meter area for such a period is a bad idea.
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Local market structure
Its been a long since the Indian government made amendments to farm laws. They are still restricted in APMCs.
Because of the current structure, the farmer is forced to sell his crop at cheaper prices. Sometimes, their main income is waste in multiple transportations of the same amount of crop. In the end, they sell their crop very cheap and come at a loss.
Conservative approach on sugarcane cultivation
Indian farmers still take the same conservative approach towards sugarcane cultivation. They don't adopt easy and modern methods of sugarcane cultivation.
Even for the next 50 years, they are still going to be dependent on sugarcane cultivation, they don't care too much about it. They have the burden of debts that force them to not think about experiments.
No scope of intercropping
One of the main disadvantages of sugarcane cultivation is, there is no scope of intercropping or crop rotation till the harvesting of sugarcane.
It means they don't have a backup of at least their investment return.
This period of rest is one of the principal reasons for the current condition of farmers.
The market price will increase with the quality of sugarcane. Government should allow farmers to sell their crops outside APMCs. There is an immediate need for at least a minimum support price from the government for sugarcane farmers.