An Analysis the Socioeconomic Profile of Sugarcane Farmers

Abstract

An important agricultural sector in India, the sugar industry may produce about 25 million tonnes of sugar every year. With a 15% share of the world's sugar production, it is the second-largest producer globally, behind Brazil. This sector is highly promising as a renewable energy source and is critically important to India's rural economy. It promotes a wide range of ancillary businesses and helps sustain the livelihoods of almost 60 million farmers and their families. The entire socio-economic prosperity of the farming community in India can be attributed to sugarcane, a significant cash crop. The sugarcane juice is transformed into several byproducts, such as molasses, sugar, khandsari, etc. The states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, & Karnataka are the primary locations for crop production. In India, many people make their living via the cultivation and processing of sugarcane. About 3,300 man-hours are needed to complete the various processes involved in sugarcane production. There is a severe scarcity of workers in the sugarcane growing regions of India. Cane harvesting is a time when the scarcity of workers is most noticeable. Men and women work side by side in sugarcane fields, albeit their skill levels may vary in different tasks. Men alone are responsible for ploughing, spraying, cleaning irrigation channels, earthing up, applying plant protection chemicals, and off barring, among other sugarcane agricultural chores. Because of how physically demanding and time-consuming these tasks are, men are performing them. By doing this study, we can better understand the challenges faced by sugarcane workers and their socioeconomic status, which is crucial for providing them with a stable income.