Parliament Question: Sugarcane Cultivation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2653 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04TH AUGUST, 2026 SUGARCANE CULTIVATION 2653. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the continuous decline in sugarcane cultivation in Tirupati district; (b) the district-wise area, production and productivity of sugarcane during the last five years, in State of Andhra Pradesh; (c) whether the Government has assessed the reasons for the decline, including inadequate irrigation, rising cultivation costs, delayed payments and labour shortages; (d) whether any special assistance is proposed for revival through improved varieties, mechanization, micro-irrigation and strengthening sugar mills; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (e): The district-wise area, production and productivity of sugarcane during the last five years, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, including Tirupati district, is given at Annexure. The Government of India is implementing various schemes for enhancing sugarcane production and revival through improved varieties, mechanization, micro-irrigation and strengthening sugar mills. The details of some major schemes are given below: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is developing high-yielding varieties of sugarcane for the state of Andhra Pradesh. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI) has recently identified an early maturing, high-yielding, and red-rot and smut resistant variety Co09004, which is ready for release. The sugarcane development programme is being implemented under National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) (erstwhile NFSM) in 13 major sugarcane growing states, including Andhra Pradesh, from 2014-15 to enhance production and productivity of sugarcane wherein thrust has been given on transfer of technology through demonstrations and training in order to extend benefits to the farmers. The Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is being implemented w.e.f 2014-15 through States/UTs Governments, including Andhra Pradesh, which involves the use of machinery and technology to carry out tasks that were traditionally performed manually. Key components of the crop production system including sugarcane—such as land preparation, sowing, irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvest operations—are now executed using appropriate machines. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly reduces the demand for manual labour. SMAM is now being implemented under the umbrella of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The scheme aims at 'reaching the unreached' by bringing the small and marginal farmers at the core, including women farmers, and giving the benefits of farm mechanization, by Promoting 'Custom Hiring Centers', creating hubs for hi-tech &high-value farm equipments, distribution of various agricultural equipments, creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities. Under this scheme, during the period from 2014-15 to 2026-27 (as on date), the central funds amounting to Rs. 955.28 Crores have been released to the State of Andhra Pradesh and 299815 number of machines have been distributed on subsidy to individual farmers, 7108 CHCs, 62 Hi-tech Hubs & 3428 FMBs have been established. Per Drop More Crop )PDMC(, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme )CSS (is being implemented in the Country, including Andhra Pradesh, from the year 2015-16 .The PDMC Scheme focuses on enhancing water-use efficiency at farm-level through Micro Irrigation technologies; namely, Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems .Micro Irrigation helps in water-saving as well as reduced fertilizer usage, labour expenses, other input costs and overall income enhancement of farmers .The Scheme emphasises to promote micro irrigation in water intensive/consuming crops, including sugarcane, to optimize water requirement. Under the PDMC Scheme, financial assistance is provided to farmers for installation of micro irrigation systems @ 55 %and 45 %of the unit cost to small & marginal farmers and other farmers, respectively .From 2015-16 to 2026-27 )so far(, an area of 11.75 lakh hectares has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the State of Andhra Pradesh under PDMC Scheme with total release of Central Assistance being Rs . 3424.35 crores . To encourage the farmers for cultivation of sugarcane, Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is fixed for every sugar season, based upon the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) in consultation with all stake holders having regard to various factors. The FRP so fixed by the Central Government is the benchmark remunerative price, below which no sugar mill can purchase cane from the cane growers. Sugarcane is procured by the sugar mills at the FRP fixed by the Central Government. Power of Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 to regulate distribution and movement of sugarcane has been delegated to the State Governments. As per the provision of Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966, the State Government may reserve area where sugarcane is grown for a sugar factory and direct a sugarcane grower or a sugarcane growers’ co-operative society, supplying sugarcane to a factory, and the factory concerned to enter into an agreement to supply or purchase, as the case may be, the quantity of sugarcane so fixed. To maintain uninterrupted crushing operations, sugar mills plan their daily crushing requirements in advance and coordinate with the farmers to ensure timely harvest and supply of sugarcane. Further, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), under the Ministry of Cooperation provides financial assistance for the revival and modernization of cooperative sugar mills. NCDC implemented “Grant in Aid to NCDC for strengthening of Cooperative Sugar Mills” from 2023-24 to 2024-25, under which ₹10005.00 Cr loans were provided to Cooperative sugar mills.Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q No. 2653 due for reply 04.08.2026 Andhra Pradesh District-wise Area, Production and Productivity of Sugarcane Source: DA&FW Area (Thousand Hectares) Production (Thousand Tonnes) Productivity (Kg./Ha.) District 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Alluri Sitharama 0.05 0.04 0.06 3.34 2.86 4.64 71021 68000 77000 Raju Anakapalli 15.91 8.45 5.89 936.03 546.88 420.19 58822 64705 71346 Ananthapuramu 0.06 0.03 0.03 0.07 0.05 6.07 2.24 3.18 6.66 5.51 97968 86077 99313 95086 103642 Annamayya 0.12 0.08 0.01 11.37 7.42 1.37 98852 95128 97571 Bapatla 0.12 0.05 0.05 9.40 4.40 4.97 79000 88000 99000 Chittoor 11.46 10.55 7.82 6.12 5.91 1044.99 1019.66 734.22 582.48 581.43 91154 96678 93866 95244 98372 East Godavari 1.72 0.92 1.08 0.90 0.65 132.11 71.83 95.22 67.26 53.44 76718 77906 88409 74979 82160 Eluru 1.44 1.34 0.51 138.07 127.47 51.93 96018 94972 102446 Guntur 0.16 0.15 0.08 0.08 0.04 14.45 14.58 5.85 5.57 3.16 91456 95268 71317 73263 82789 Kakinada 0.68 0.68 0.34 60.38 48.01 28.78 89049 70284 84312 Krishna 4.46 4.38 3.26 2.18 1.95 403.34 441.64 353.33 239.27 235.08 90497 100807 108551 109797 120279 Kurnool 0.19 0.13 0.16 0.10 0.09 20.40 14.30 15.37 9.73 9.36 109661 111750 96081 95412 102451 Nandyal 0.02 0.01 0.00 1.75 1.05 0.19 96944 95273 97000 Nandamuri Taraka 0.64 0.43 0.34 46.17 32.67 29.01 72027 75796 85242 Rama Rao Palnadu 0.05 0.01 0.00 3.08 0.88 0.20 68333 88000 99000 Parvathipuram 1.07 0.89 0.97 79.78 68.62 85.71 74837 77001 88571 Manyam Prakasam 0.17 0.18 0.08 0.02 0.01 12.49 13.73 5.32 1.26 1.13 74760 76721 65667 84000 93500 Sri Potti Sriramulu 0.02 0.01 0.68 0.55 31000 79000 Nellore Sri Sathya Sai 0.02 0.02 0.01 1.95 1.43 0.51 92667 95200 101800 Srikakulam 3.94 3.59 0.95 0.69 0.71 284.15 251.02 85.26 52.27 61.29 72064 70000 90222 75965 86123 Tirupati 2.12 1.90 1.22 191.73 173.82 120.33 90481 91572 98663 Visakhapatnam 23.63 19.59 0.04 0.02 0.01 1514.72 1193.90 2.71 1.43 1.00 64093 60945 67750 68000 77000 Vizianagaram 5.95 4.88 4.51 3.27 3.01 388.77 379.69 280.40 219.72 273.18 65307 77852 62228 67207 90653 West Godavari 3.11 1.98 0.09 0.10 0.11 307.08 195.00 6.68 7.73 8.89 98770 98435 71021 76515 78363 Y.S.R. Kadapa 0.07 0.13 0.09 0.05 0.04 5.35 8.65 8.30 4.97 4.01 76443 69200 95448 95538 102333 *****