Doubt Remains on Sugarcane Sowing Area

15-Jul-2025 08:31 PM

New Delhi. At the national level, the sugarcane production area has remained unchanged for the past three weeks, and no official updates have been released.

This suggests either that the Central Agriculture Ministry is not receiving updated sowing data from the states, or that there has been no significant change in acreage.

Initially, reports had indicated a rise in the sugarcane sowing area in Karnataka, the country’s third-largest producer, but the latest figures from the state government show a decline of 55,000 hectares—from 6.29 lakh hectares last year to 5.74 lakh hectares this year.

Attention is now focused on the top two sugarcane-producing states, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. According to the Union Agriculture Ministry, the five-year average area under sugarcane is estimated at 52.51 lakh hectares.

As of July 11, 2025, the production area was recorded at 55.16 lakh hectares—28,000 hectares more than the 54.88 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

The industry is also awaiting the sowing data from the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). While the Agriculture Ministry projected an increase in sugarcane acreage for the 2024-25 season, ISMA had predicted a decline.

A sharp 18–19 percent drop in domestic sugar production during the 2024-25 season compared to 2023-24 suggests that sugar mills may not have received adequate cane supply.

This season, the monsoon has been inconsistent in Maharashtra and Karnataka. If adequate rainfall is not received during July and August, the industry could again face difficulties in sourcing enough sugarcane.