Sustainability of smallholder sugarcane growers under changing climatic scenario

Changing climatic scenario with respect to biotic and abiotic factors may be the major challenge for sustainable sugarcane production. The basic effect of climate change is expected to rise in average temperature, increase in mean summer rainfall, frequent and longer dry spells, hot extremes, degradation of natural resources especially land, water and bio- diversity. The diverse challenge and constrains faced by sugarcane growers to fulfill their ever increasing demands from limited available natural resources. Weeds have become more prolific and are expected to invade new habitats as global warming increases. Insect-pests, some ofwhich carry plant diseases, could become more prolific and widespread as temperatures increase. It is also possible that increases in temperature, moisture and carbon dioxide could result in higher populations of destructive pests. Constrains such as erratic rainfall, soil acidity, limited access to credit and rises in production costs have been mentioned to be the major constrains faced by sugarcane growers in India. Major options to tackle the climatic challenge are development of suitable varieties, adoption of integrated approaches for managing nutrient, weed, and insect-pest, and developing location specific suitable varieties having special desirable traits as per requirement of growers. Mechanization of farm is essential for timely completion of operation and reducing human drudgery without compromising the profitability of farming community. Machine should be arranged either on custom hired basis or by procuring groups of farmers depending upon the cost. Government and policy maker may provide small machine or equipments for small farmers on subsidized basis. Crop insurance and marketing risks are to be also taken care by intercropping or crop diversification for sustaining the productivity and profitability of the system.