Solutions to Problems Faced by Sugarcane Growers in the State of Karnataka – A Feasibility Study

Purpose: Sugar industry is one of the agricultural based industries in Karnataka. In India, Karnataka has now emerged as the third biggest sugar producing state after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane is growing in 5.20 Lakh hectares of land and nearly 410 Lakh tonnes of sugarcane is growing yearly in Karnataka. 85% of sugarcane is utilizing for sugar production and 15% to that of cane seed and Bella (jaggery). But all is not well for sugar cane growing farmers. In the state, the sugar industries are of large capacity, which are owned by private, public and cooperative societies. But some of these industries are facing various problems and not running continuously. If the industries do not buy the sugarcane, farmers are under utter loss. On the other side the industries which buy the sugarcane do not pay the cash on time. This is a serious agrarian crisis which is shaped by an increase in cultivation costs and a decline in agricultural income, which is pushing farmers into a debt trap. So the sugarcane growers are facing problems and not getting sufficient return from sugar industries on time. Hence the farmers are committing suicides every day.

What is the solution?

• Miniaturization of sugar industries: This will help group of small farmers to setup a small scale sugar industry themselves near their sugarcane fields. They need not to depend on anybody to sell their sugarcane.

• Government to stop import of sugar

• To encourage public to use more jaggery Mechanization of jaggery plants

• License to farmers to produce alcohol from molasses

•To encourage all sugar industries to have co-generation plants

Design/Methodology: Studied the various processes in an existing large scale sugar industry with all machineries. Feasibility report has been prepared in miniaturization of sugar industry. Processes in jaggery production also have been studied.

Findings: It is possible to have miniaturization of sugar industry. In jaggery plants mechanization is required to improve purity/quality of jaggery.

Practical Implications: Government policy must be changed. Farmers should be motivated to change their mindset to encompass non dependency.