Sugarcane cultivation is fundamental to India’s agricultural economy, underpinning the sugar sector, ethanol blending initiatives, and the livelihoods of rural communities.

For those interested in identifying the leading sugarcane producing states in India or understanding global sugarcane production, this analytical article offers a detailed overview based on the most recent data from 2022-23, with forecasts for 2023-24 indicating a national total of approximately 453 million tonnes.

India continues to be one of the foremost sugarcane producing nations, often outpacing Brazil in certain years to claim the title of the world’s largest producer.

In this article, we provide a breakdown of sugarcane production by state in India, emphasizing key facts, notable insights, and comparisons with other crops such as rice and tea to highlight the diversity of agriculture.

Indian States by Sugarcane Production in Million Tonnes

Rank	Region	Sugarcane Production (Million Tonnes)
1	Uttar Pradesh	225.22
2	Maharashtra	123.97
3	Karnataka	62.46
4	Tamil Nadu	16.92
5	Gujarat	14.69
6	Bihar	12.06
7	Madhya Pradesh	10.45
8	Odisha	8.96
9	Haryana	8.86
10	Punjab	7.64
11	Telangana	5.48
12	Uttarakhand	3.76
13	Andhra Pradesh	3.12
14	Chhattisgarh	2.69
15	Rajasthan	1.82
16	Assam	1.08
17	Jharkhand	0.52
18	West Bengal	0.48
19	Kerala	0.21
20	Puducherry	0.10
21	Goa	0.05
22	Himachal Pradesh	0.02
23	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0.00
24	Arunachal Pradesh	0.00
25	Chandigarh	0.00
26	DNHDD	0.00
27	Delhi	0.00
28	Jammu and Kashmir	0.00
29	Ladakh	0.00
30	Lakshadweep	0.00
31	Manipur	0.00
32	Meghalaya	0.00
33	Mizoram	0.00
34	Nagaland	0.00
35	Sikkim	0.00
36	Tripura	0.00

Percentage share of every Indian State in Sugarcane production

Key Facts Regarding Sugarcane Production in India

India’s sugarcane production for the 2022-23 period reached approximately 490 million tonnes, with Uttar Pradesh leading the sector at 225.22 million tonnes, which accounts for nearly 46% of the national output.

Following Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra produced 123.97 million tonnes (25%), and Karnataka contributed 62.46 million tonnes (13%). Collectively, these three states represent over 84% of the total production, forming what is known as India’s “Sugarcane Belt” across the northern, western, and southern regions.

The table above details the production figures in tonnes for all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, with the data converted to million tonnes for the purpose of this analysis.

For the 2023-24 season, production experienced a slight decline to 453 million tonnes due to variations in weather and a shift towards ethanol production. However, Uttar Pradesh continued to lead with estimates ranging from 177 to 179 million tonnes.

Other significant contributors include Bihar (12.06 million tonnes), Gujarat (14.69 million tonnes), and Tamil Nadu (16.92 million tonnes).

On a global scale, India is the foremost producer of sugarcane, with the 2023-24 output of 453 million tonnes representing approximately 24% of the world’s total production, surpassing Brazil’s 437 million tonnes.

This establishes India as a key exporter, although the majority of the yield is consumed domestically and utilized for ethanol blending, with a target of 20% by 2025.

Key Facts Regarding Sugarcane Production in India

India’s sugarcane production for the 2022-23 period reached approximately 490 million tonnes, with Uttar Pradesh leading the sector at 225.22 million tonnes, which accounts for nearly 46% of the national output.

Following Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra produced 123.97 million tonnes (25%), and Karnataka contributed 62.46 million tonnes (13%). Collectively, these three states represent over 84% of the total production, forming what is known as India’s “Sugarcane Belt” across the northern, western, and southern regions.

The table above details the production figures in tonnes for all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, with the data converted to million tonnes for the purpose of this analysis.

For the 2023-24 season, production experienced a slight decline to 453 million tonnes due to variations in weather and a shift towards ethanol production. However, Uttar Pradesh continued to lead with estimates ranging from 177 to 179 million tonnes.

Other significant contributors include Bihar (12.06 million tonnes), Gujarat (14.69 million tonnes), and Tamil Nadu (16.92 million tonnes).

On a global scale, India is the foremost producer of sugarcane, with the 2023-24 output of 453 million tonnes representing approximately 24% of the world’s total production, surpassing Brazil’s 437 million tonnes.

This establishes India as a key exporter, although the majority of the yield is consumed domestically and utilized for ethanol blending, with a target of 20% by 2025.

In comparison to the leading sugarcane producing states in India during 2022, the production for 2023-24 experienced a decline of 7-8% in Maharashtra due to the impacts of El Niño, whereas Uttar Pradesh maintained its production levels.

Future Outlook and Innovations

With the targets for ethanol blending, production may increase to 500 million tonnes by 2025; however, obstacles such as fair pricing (with the Fair and Remunerative Price set at INR 340 per quintal) and outstanding payments (INR 15,000 crore in 2024) remain significant issues.

Notably, states like Telangana and Odisha are becoming emerging hotspots, exhibiting annual production growth of 10-15% through the use of improved hybrid varieties.

A map depicting the top sugarcane producing states in India would illustrate a clustering effect in the northern and southern regions, which could inform policy decisions aimed at fostering balanced development.

Conclusion

The sugarcane industry in India, primarily driven by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and facilitating energy transition.

However, it is essential to adopt sustainable practices to mitigate issues related to water scarcity and climate change.

In contrast to rice-producing states in India, such as West Bengal, which yields 15 million tonnes, or tea-producing regions, the industrial connections of sugarcane provide distinct economic advantages.

As production continues to develop, it will be important for stakeholders to keep track of emerging trends. It is advisable to stay updated on the projections for sugarcane production for the 2024-25 period.

Source

• State-wise Area of Sugarcane