Maharashtra turmeric ryots opt for sugarcane

Hopes of better yields and higher realisation prompt the changeover

Many categories of farmers in Maharashtra are gradually switching over from their ancestral crop to other types of crop in order to alleviate poverty.

It is believed that this may result in better realisations for them and, in turn, put a leash on the alarming suicide rate in the state.

In one of such cases, in the hope of better yields and realisations, about 20 per cent of the state's turmeric farmers have decided to cultivate sugarcane this season.

At present, Maharashtra contributes about 5 lakh tonne a year to the country's total output of 40-45 lakh tonne turmeric. Ranked third in production, after Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra every year sows turmeric in an acreage of around 3.5 lakh hectares.

Surprisingly, the turmeric output in this farmer and industry-friendly state is only 18-20 chhallas (70-80 kg each) compared with 100-125 chhallas in the south. This indicates that the farmers in the state still have room for growth in farming with innovative technology and advanced irrigation system.

In comparison, sugarcane farmers cultivate seed in about 7.5 lakh hectares and harvest around 75 tonne a hectare. And in the sugarcane production too, Maharashtra lags behind states like Tamil Nadu, whose average output is 105 tonne, while the all-India average production stands at 90-95 tonne a hectare.

Most significantly, the state is currently losing about Rs 45,750 a hectare by producing turmeric, with its output fetching it only about Rs 48,000 a hectare against the sugarcane realisation of Rs 93,750 a hectare.

"Reliance Industries' proposed ethanol and chemical plants may not be taking off "� as reported, still sugarcane farming is a safer bet," said Prakesh Naik-Navre, managing director, Maharashtra State Sugar Co-operative Association.

From the irrigation point of view, both turmeric and sugarcane are rain-fed crop. But, while turmeric requires frequent rains with no water-logging and no drought, sugarcane can fetch better yields even with some drought and water-logging.

Besides, compared with sugarcane, the fear of crop damage is more in case of turmeric, as fungus and humidity always affect quality. Taking care of humidity through the entire year poses a challenge for warehouses.