Marathwada Faces Decline in Sugarcane Cultivation Due to Reduced Rainfall

The Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner's office reports a reduction in sugarcane cultivation in Marathwada's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nanded divisions. Based on rainfall data up to July 31, the area under cultivation is expected to go down. Maharashtra's previous year's sugarcane area of 14.02 lakh hectares has reduced to 11.67 lakh hectares.

Marathwada's sugarcane cultivation area is predicted to decline this year, according to a report by the agriculture department, said a top official on Thursday.

The Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner's office, utilizing the agriculture department's data and rainfall information till July 31, anticipates reduced sugarcane plantations.

The two divisions, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nanded, see a potential drop, with sugarcane areas expected to decrease from around 2 lakh hectares to 1.42 lakh hectares and 1.41 lakh hectares to 1.25 lakh hectares, respectively.

Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Kunal Khemnar highlighted that last year, Maharashtra's sugarcane cultivation area was 14.02 lakh hectares, which has now fallen to 11.67 lakh hectares. He mentioned that further rainfall might increase the cultivation area.

(With inputs from agencies.)