Resource Use Level and Yield Gap in Sugarcane Cultivation in Maharashtra: An Empirical Study

This study has estimated the gaps in input use and yield of sugarcane in the state of Maharashtra. Different sugarcane types, viz. ratoon, suru and adsali which are grown in the states were considered and the shortfall in yield at demonstration plots from potential yield and at farmers’ field from demonstration plots were considered as yield gap I & II. The per hectare yield gap I and II at the state level for the sugarcane ranged from 23.26 to 26.42 per cent and 12.42 to 25.42 per cent, while the total yield gap ranged from 32.79 to 45.12 per cent. The gaps in input use like excess use of nitrogen and manure, use of human labour and machineries, spacing practices, etc. were traced out to be the causes of yield gaps in different regions of Maharashtra. The paper suggested to adopt optimal practices and inputs usage at farmer’s level to bridge the gaps in different regions of Maharashtra.