Farmers in southern Gujarat, the main sugarcane growing region in the state, are worried as delayed rain is threatening cane yield. Sugar industry players expect a decline in sugarcane production in 2009-10 due to insufficient rain in Gujarat.
Though south Gujarat has received few showers in the past couple of days, cane yield has already seen the impact of delay in monsoon. Even today, some areas received rain, but it is still late.
“Sowing was completed in January this year and the crushing season for cane is from November to May. The cane crop is standing at present and the yield has already taken a hit. As a result, cane production is likely to witness a fall of around 15 per cent this year, ” said Dilip Bhakta, chairman, Madhi Sugar Factory.
“If this situation continues for some more time, it may also affect sowing for the next season,” he added.
“The April-June period is considered to be the growth stage for sugarcane. Lack of water during this stage affects the process of photosynthesis in sugarcane resulting into an adverse impact on its yield. The dry spell in the month of June, might have hit sugarcane yield,” said D U Patel, research scientist (Sugarcane), Sugarcane Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University.
According to the data available with the agriculture department of the state, nearly 195,000 hectares of land has been brought under sugarcane cultivation in 2009-10 as against 165,000 hectares in 2008-09. Cane production in Gujarat had declined by 27 per cent in 2008-09 as compared to 2007-08, which saw an output of 13 million tonnes. The sugarcane yield was estimated at 21-24 million tonnes in 2008-09.
“Sugarcane output is likely to fall as yield has been impacted. Taking lower yield into account, many farmers in Vadodara and Bharuch districts have started selling sugarcane for fodder at a price of Rs 1,000 a tonne,” said Jayakant Patel, former chairman of Baroda Sugar Factory.
However, government officials denied any damage to cane output due to delay in rain.