Working Paper: 441

 Sustainability Concerns on Sugarcane Production in
Maharashtra, India: A Decomposition and Instability Analysis

 

Abnave Vikas B

 

Abstract

This paper measures the instability levels in the area, production and productivity of sugarcane in Maharashtra in particular and India as a whole, using the available secondary data from 1966-67 to 2012-13. The analysis periods have been classified into five sub-periods and the growth trend, decomposition analysis and the Cuddy Dell Instability Index have been used for the analysis. The trend of sugarcane productivity in India as a whole is found better than in Maharashtra state in particular. The decomposition analysis result reveals that the contribution of area expansion is relatively more important as compared to productivity expansion to increase sugarcane production. Instability analysis indicates that the level of instability in the area, production and productivity of sugarcane is almost stagnant in India as a whole, whereas the level of instability in the area, production and productivity of sugarcane has been drastically increased in Maharashtra. There is no association found between low growth rate and high instability and vice versa. Therefore, this paper suggests that the sugarcane yield needs to be improved through the use of high yielding varieties of sugarcane, improved cultivation practices and better water and soil management to make it profitable and sustainable.

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