Doubling Farmers ’Income in Cane Growing Areas: Success Story of Sugarcane Sector

The development strategy for the agriculture sector in India was central to increase productivity. The strategy did not explicitly recognise the need to raise farmers ’income and did not mention any direct measure to promote farmers ’welfare. The net result has been that farmers ’income remained low, which is evident from the incidence of poverty among farm households. Realising the need to pay special attention to the plight of farmers the Central government has set the goal to double farmers ’income by 2022–23. In this ambitious target of doubling farmers ’income sugarcane sector can play vital role. In the recent time, the public-private-farmer partnership (PPFP) has emerged as most crucial and effective extension approach in achieving speedy growth in agriculture. Dissemination of research outputs and development of agriculture can best be achieved by providing an enabling environment that promotes stronger partnership between public and private sectors. During the years 2012–2017, cane development activities in partnership mode involving three partners i.e. Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research & cane development department (public), Sugar Mill (private) and cane growers (farmer) was implemented in command area of a sugar mill in Public-Private-Farmer partnership (PPFP) with sole objective to enhance productivity and profitability of farmers and sugar mill. The detailed analysis of results clearly showed that the interventions introduced were able to enhance farmers ’income by one and half to two and half times. This helped sugar mill to earn additional income from more sugar production. The outcome clearly spelt that sugarcane sector can contribute considerably in achieving ambitious target to double farmers ’income.