India: Covid-19 pushes sugarcane farmers to shift towards short-term crops

Published 2021년 6월 23일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the significant challenges faced by sugarcane farmers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A study has shown a sharp decline in net income for sugarcane farmers in the Mysuru and Mandya districts, with a potential overall decrease in sugar production as many farmers shift to more profitable short-term crops like vegetables. The pandemic has led to increased production costs, lower crop yields, and reduced demand for sugarcane due to factory closures. The study urges the government to take steps to address these issues, such as ensuring sugar factories operate at full capacity and providing adequate fertiliser distribution to farmers.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The ongoing health emergency, Covid-19, has put sugarcane growers in a fix and several farmers of the region are giving up sugarcane cultivation and diverting towards vegetables. Following heavy loss and other problems, and they are shifting towards short-term crops, like vegetables. As per the study, ‘Lockdown and Its Implications on Sugarcane Farmers’, conducted by Economics professor, University of Mysore, D V Gopalappa and research scholar P Nethravathi, farmers could earn up to Rs 1,32,600 against cost of production Rs 45,000, per acre, before the pandemic. The net gain was Rs 87,600 per acre. But, the Covid-19 crisis had severely affected the farmers. The cost of production has increased several folds. Without proper crushing sources, several farmers did not harvest their crops in April-May, resulting in loss of Rs 55,000 per acre. As per the study, the pandemic has forced many sugarcane growers to give up farming, which may result in overall decline in sugar production. ...

Source: Deccan Herald