A data driven study of regional variations in sugarcane production and yield trends in India

India, the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the world. Sugarcane and allied industries are key components of the rural economy. It provides for the sugar, jaggery and khandsari also known as ‘desi khaand’, helps millions of farmers, and is becoming more and more involved in ethanol-based biofuel projects. From 2018 to 2023, this study looks into the regional patterns in sugarcane output and yield, emphasizing differences among important states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The study uses Z-score normalization and year-over-year % change for three metrics i.e. area, yield, and production to analyse sugarcane farming trends in India from 2018 to 2023. The results show considerable variation, with notable contractions in 2020–2021 brought on by COVID-19 disturbances and climatic stress.  Significant yield increases and the expansion of farming areas in regions like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were the main drivers of the robust recovery that was seen in 2022. The study determines growth trajectories and performance disparities using comparable indicators across 13 districts in India.

The results highlight that majority of regions fall into the moderate yield category, with the average sugarcane yield across all regions being 77.84 T/Ha. These findings emphasize the necessity of focused interventions under initiatives such as One District One Product (ODOP) in order to increase market resilience and regional efficiency for those districts which promote jaggery as ODOP product.