CH. SRILATHA VANI*, P. KISHORE VARMA AND H. SRINIVASA RAO
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Anakapalle, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Anakapalle-531 001
(Andhra Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : lathachiluvuri@yahoo.co.in; Mobile : 94415 64307)
(Received : May 4, 2022; Accepted : June 19, 2022)
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to know the trends in area, production and productivity of sugarcane at north
coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and also to know the constraints for cultivation of sugarcane crop in
North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh. To analyze the trends in production and productivity, 10 years
secondary data were analyzed and 180 respondents from command areas of sugar factories were selected
to know the reasons/constraints which led to crop shifting. The results revealed that except in
Srikakulam, negative growth rates were found in Vizianagaram (-1.97 and -0.50), Visakhapatnam (-2.67
and -0.93) and entire North Coastal Zone (-2.03 and -0.18) for both area and production. However,
positive growth rate was noticed in yield for all the three districts. The constraints faced by sugarcane
farmers were classified into four broad categories, namely, socio-economic constraints, technical
constraints, administrative constraints and psychological constraints. The results revealed that major
socio-economic constraints faced by the sample growers were high labour cost (97.2%), unavailability of
farm machinery (90.0%), etc. Important technological constraints faced by the sugarcane growers were
non-availability of high promising varieties (91.7%), high cost of seed and no subsidy on seed (85.5%).
Moreover, existing varieties were highly prone to viral diseases (73.2%). While coming to the administrative
constraints, lack of intimate payments (88.8%), delayed cutting orders (85.0%), less input support from
factories (77.7%), etc. were the major psychological constraints which drove them to shift to other
crops. From the present study, one can conclude that farmers are facing several problems in cultivation
of sugarcane. It is recommended that there is a necessity of intensification of extension services to
address their constraints and to increase their level of adoption of recommended practices. The study
also suggested the need to enhance the efforts in transfer of technology and credit availability to the
small and marginal farmers.
Key words : Sugarcane growers, constraints, marketing, crop shift