India’s sugar industry has undergone significant growth in recent years, going from a marginal exporter to becoming the world’s second-largest sugar exporter after Brazil. In just four years, between 2017-18 and 2021-22, sugar exports from India skyrocketed from USD 810.9 million to USD 4.6 billion. This article will examine the current status and geographical conditions of the sugar industry in India, as well as some of the issues that the industry faces.
Sugar Industry in India: Current Status and Geographical Conditions
The sugar industry in India is a vital component of the country’s agro-based economy, providing employment to millions of sugarcane farmers and workers. In the 2021-22 season, India became the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and the second-largest exporter. The sugar industry is primarily concentrated in two major regions: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Punjab in the north, and Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh in the south.
Geographical Conditions for Sugar Growth
The ideal conditions for sugarcane growth in India include a hot and humid climate, an annual rainfall of around 75-100 cm, and deep, rich loamy soil. The southern region of India has a tropical climate that is more conducive to higher sucrose content, resulting in a higher yield per unit area compared to the northern region.
Issues with the Sugarcane Industry
Despite the growth of the sugar industry in India, there are several challenges that the industry faces. One major issue is competition from other crops such as cotton, oilseeds, and rice, which can impact the supply of sugarcane to mills and lead to fluctuations in sugar production and prices. India’s yield per hectare is also low compared to other major sugarcane-producing countries, which can impact the industry’s overall productivity and profitability.
Sugar production is a seasonal industry with a short crushing season of 4 to 7 months per year, leading to financial loss and seasonal employment for workers, as well as a lack of full utilization of sugar mills. Additionally, the average rate of recovery of sugar from sugarcane in India is less than ten percent, which is lower than other major sugar-producing countries. Finally, high costs of sugarcane, inefficient technology, uneconomic processes of production, and heavy excise duty result in high manufacturing costs for sugar.
Why In News
India’s sugar industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the past five years, as the country has become the second-largest sugar exporter globally, just behind Brazil. With a surge in sugar exports from USD 810.9 million to USD 4.6 billion between 2017-18 and 2021-22, India’s sugar industry is rapidly growing in the international market.
MCQs on India’s Sugar Industry
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India has recently become the world’s largest producer, consumer and which of the following for sugar?
A. Exporter
B. Importer
C. Processor
D. Distributor
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Which of the following regions in India has a tropical climate suitable for higher sucrose content in sugarcane?
A. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Punjab
B. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
C. West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh
D. Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh
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What is the ideal temperature for the growth of sugarcane?
A. 10-15°C
B. 16-20°C
C. 21-27°C
D. 28-35°C
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What are some of the factors that contribute to the high cost of sugar production in India?
A. Low cost of sugarcane and efficient technology
B. High rate of recovery of sugar from sugarcane and shorter crushing season
C. Economic process of production and low excise duty
D. High cost of sugarcane, inefficient technology, uneconomic process of production and heavy excise duty
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