By Editor Sugarcane is one of the most important and widely grown commercial crops in India. Millions of farmers in India grow sugarcane, and the same sugarcane is used for the production of ethanol in India. To date, India is the second largest sugarcane producer in the world after Brazil, so the production is quite high in almost every state of India.
In the year 2025, the demand for ethanol has increased as the same ethanol is blended with petrol to reduce reliance on fuel imports and control pollution. With the change in weather and climate control issues, production has gone down in many states, resulting in price hikes throughout the country. Even with these challenges, certain states continue to dominate sugarcane cultivation and contribute heavily to India’s overall output.
In this topic, we will explore some key aspects related to the top 10 sugarcane-producing states, their future, and more. Let’s start with the importance of understanding why sugarcane production matters the most.
Importance of Sugarcane in India
Sugarcane is used in four different ways, and there is a direct impact on the Indian economy. Farmers run the economy, and supporting farmers is crucial to keep the cycle going. Here are four ways sugarcane is used:
- Sugar Production: India has more than 500 sugar mills across the country, which process sugarcane into sugar, so the raw material plays an important role here.
- Ethanol Blending: The Government of India is promoting environment-friendly fuel and blending 20% of ethanol in petrol and planning to increase the blend from 20% to 27% in the near future. Sugarcane is used in the production of ethanol.
- Employment: Millions of farmers are directly dependent on sugarcane as the main source of income.
- By-product: Bagasse is a by-product of sugarcane, which is used in power generation; meanwhile, molasses is used in distilleries. Even the same sugarcane is used for making jaggery and similar products.
Sugarcane is not just a crop but also the backbone of rural and industrial economies in many states of India.
1. Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is leading in the production of sugarcane, as the fertile plains of western UP provide the best conditions to grow sugarcane. Even though UP farmers are facing red rot disease issues and a lower recovery rate, farmers in UP are still producing more than 90 lakh tonnes of sugar every year. In Uttar Pradesh, the region around Meerut, Saharanpur, and Muzaffarnagar is especially known for dense sugarcane cultivation.
2. Maharashtra
The second largest producer of sugarcane in India is Maharashtra, where districts like Kolhapur, Satara, and Sangli become the hub of sugar factories. The sugarcane production in Maharashtra went slightly down compared to the last year; even in such a state, the state contributed around 81 lakh tonnes of sugar to the total output. Over the years, one of the biggest strengths of Maharashtra has been its cooperative sugar mills.
3. Karnataka
The districts of Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Mandya in Karnataka have made it the third major sugarcane-producing state in India. With the largest sugarcane field in the said districts, farmers have touched a new production level of around 40 lakh tonnes of sugar (slightly lower than last year), yet a significant number.
4. Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a leading state in the sugarcane production category in southern India, with crops mainly grown in districts like Erode, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur. One key fact about the Tamil Nadu Sugarcane industry is that it yields higher per hectare than many other states because of advanced farming techniques and smart ways to manage the crop.
5. Gujarat
Gujarat, being fifth on this list, is a crucial sugarcane-producing state in western India where most of the crop is grown in districts like Surat, Bharuch, and Valsad. With a stable output in crops due to the use of better irrigation practices, Gujarat was not highly affected compared to other states. Though sugarcane is not as widespread as cotton or groundnut in Gujarat, its role in the cooperative sugar sector is noteworthy.
6. Bihar
Bihar is the oldest sugarcane-producing belt in India due to its fertile Gangetic plains, which offer excellent conditions for sugarcane farming. Many districts like Champaran, Sitamarhi, and Gopalganj are well known for sugarcane production in the state. Bihar is showing interest in reviving the sugarcane industry.
7. Haryana
With a production of 86 to 90 lakh tonnes of canes, Haryana ranks seventh in this list. Haryana benefits from the irrigation through tube wells and canals, which help in having a steady yield in the districts of Ambala, Karnal, and Yamunanagar. Sugarcane farming helps supplement farmers’ incomes alongside wheat and rice.
8. Punjab
The land of Punjab is called the food bowl of India, and Punjab is again in the list for having a fair share in the production of sugarcane. There are many districts like Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur, which are producing almost 70 to 80 lakh tonnes of canes every year. Good irrigation and mechanisms are the key advantages Punjab has in the overall production.
9. Uttarakhand
The fertile terrain region of Uttarakhand produces sugarcane in large quantities in the districts of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Dehradun. The state may not be among the top five, but its sugarcane crop is important for the livelihood of local farmers and for running several sugar mills in the region. The overall production of canes in Uttarakhand is more than 37 lakh tonnes.
10. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh completes the list of the top ten sugarcane-producing states. Districts like East Godavari, West Godavari, and Nellore have significant cane cultivation. Andhra Pradesh produces more than 31 lakh tonnes of canes annually, and the production is mainly used in rural households in the making of jaggery.
Challenges Faced by Sugarcane Farmers in 2025
Although these states produce the bulk of India’s sugarcane, the year 2025 has not been without problems.
- Climate change
- Crop diseases
- Falling recovery rates
- Rising costs of inputs
- Water shortage
Conclusion
Despite the challenges, sugarcane remains one of the most promising crops for India. With the government promoting ethanol blending and new technology being introduced in farming, the future looks hopeful.