Vol. 5 No. 2 (2021)
Articles

An Economic Analysis of Sugarcane Growers: A Case Study of the Members of Sugar Co-operatives in South Gujarat Region

Published 2021-07-24

Abstract

Sugarcane was an important cash crop in Gujarat with an annual production of 70.68 Ha.(MT), of sugarcane and 90.19 lakh quintals of sugar in the year 2019-20. Gujarat is the second largest sugar producer in the co-operative sector among the states of India; the co-operative sugar factories have enabled the country in becoming not only self-sufficient in sugar requirement but also contribute to the world market. Sugar co-operatives have been rendering considerable socio-economic services to the rural community and it has made a profound impact on the social and economic life of the people in the area surrounding the factory. Due to the involvement of farmers’ right from the inception, the sugar factories were never looked upon as merely, processing units of sugarcane, but also endeavored for socio-economic, educational and cultural development of the entire area surrounding the sugar factories. The South Gujarat is pre-dominant sugar producing region in the state, having remarkable growth and good performance of the sugar industry in the state. The present study deals with the main aspects of economic condition of selected sugarcane growers of the six selected sugar co-operatives. Information related to economic condition of sugarcane growers, their expenditure pattern as well as debt and savings related information of the respondents have been included under various heads. This present study has made an attempt to examine the economic condition of sugarcane growers of South Gujarat.