Farmers turn to sugarcane in dry region

AURANGABAD: Marathwada farmers have gone back to sugarcane cultivation after the bountiful rainfall this monsoon, with the authorities expecting a 30% surge in the area under the water-guzzling crop.
After three consequent years of drought, the region received good rainfall this monsoon resulting in an increase in the groundwater levels and ample storage in the reservoirs.Considering the availability of water, more farmers have taken up sugar cane cultivation in the region.
In 2013, Marathwada witnessed sugar cane plantation on 2.25 lakh hectare, but the area under the cash crop came down by more than half to 94,000 hectare by 2015 due to deficient monsoons, agriculture department officials said.
Marathwada farmers had turned their back towards sugar cane because of the prevailing water crisis and switched over to soybean and cotton cultivation in several areas since 2013. With surplus rainfall in many areas this year, sugar cane plantation is on the surge again, a senior official said.
Sugar cane cultivation takes place under four-identified seasons, including Adsali that coincides with the kharif season, pre-seasonal plantation done in November and December, followed by Suru cultivated in January and February and the subsequent Ratoon season. Marathwada witnesses maximum sugar cane plantation during the last three seasons.
Last year, sugar cane was planted on around 1,113 hectare during Adsali season. This year too, very less plantation could take place owing to the delayed arrival of monsoon. The sugar cane plantation is expected to pick up momentum during the remaining seasons, agricultural officials said.
B Venkateswarlu, vice-chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, told TOI that farmers tend to cultivate water-intensive crops based on rainfall received in only one year instead of following any pattern.
“Considering the possibility of deficient monsoon in the coming years, farmers should go for sustainable cropping pattern. Mulberry and potatoes along with onion and turmeric can be effective alternatives,” he said.
Venkateswarlu also stressed on the need to freeze the area under sugar cane plantation in Marathwada for the larger good of farmers. “The freezing limit can be calculated based on five-year average of the plantation area. Once the freezing limit is defined, the government should ensure all area coming under it must be micro-irrigated to avoid water wastage associated with sugar cane plantation,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the study conducted by advocacy group South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) on sugar cane cultivation in Marathwada had found that drought-prone region consumed nearly 4,322 million cubic metre (mcum) of water, nearly double the live storage capacity of Jayakwadi project, to irrigate sugar cane on 2.25 lakh hectare in 2013.
A senior revenue department official said the works carried out under the government’s flagship water conservation scheme of Jalyukta Shivar have been further encouraging farmers to take up sugar cane cultivation.
Besides sufficient rainfall during monsoon, the work done under Jalyukta Shivar has recharged the groundwater level considerably. It is but obvious for farmers to think of taking up cash crop such as sugar cane, a senior official said.
Farmer activist Jayaji Suryawanshi said farmers can avoid sugar cane cultivation provided the government assures them good and assured prices for other yield.
“Financial security is the only reason for farmers planting sugar cane. They should not be criticised for it as they have to run their families. The fact that sugar cane plays larger role in overall economy involving sugar production cannot be neglected. Farmers are ready to switch over to other crop if they are rewarded for all the hard work they put in,” he said.