Sugarcane crop affected by rainfall deficit in some states

14-Sep-2026 07:09 PM

New Delhi. While sugarcane planting has concluded at the national level, the lack of timely, adequate rainfall is hindering crop progress. This could lead to a decline in average sugarcane productivity and sugar recovery rates. Several parts of Maharashtra, as well as most areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have received deficient Southwest Monsoon rainfall this season. Uneven rainfall distribution is also being observed in other major producing states.

According to government data, the domestic sugarcane cultivation area for the current year stands at 58.47 lakh hectares, a decrease of 40,000 hectares compared to the previous year's 58.87 lakh hectares. Even though the planting process is largely complete, it is not yet possible to make a firm estimate of sugar production,

as the crop remains vulnerable to the impact of El Niño and a weak monsoon. Sugarcane is not harvested all at once; the harvesting process spans from October through April, and the crop requires rainfall at regular intervals.

The outlook for sugar production remains unclear. Industry bodies are in a state of uncertainty, as the government has not yet announced a decision regarding the use of sugarcane-based feedstocks for ethanol production.