Growth Pattern and Instability in Sugarcane Production during Pre- and Post-Liberalization Regimes

The study has analyzed the growth pattern and instability in major sugarcane-producing states in tropical and subtropical regions of India. The study is based on the state-wise time series data on sugarcane area, production and productivity compiled from various sources for the period 1970–2013. The study has revealed that the sugarcane production performance, as indicated by the CGRs, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu was better than in the states of subtropical region. The sugarcane yield has also registered the annual CGR of 0.88 per cent with instability index 0.05. The study has concluded that the growth in sugarcane production was more due to increase in area than yield at the country level during the past 43 years. The analysis has also revealed that there were wide gaps in sugarcane yield in the tropical and subtropical states. The sugarcane production performance in Maharashtra has been found quite impressive; however, concerns have been raised about the decline in yield in sugarcane production particularly in Maharashtra and states of tropical region due to severe water scarcity. The study has concluded that the sugarcane production was more stable in the post-liberalization than pre-liberalization regime in India.