Sugarcane production and acreages in Bangladesh have more than halved in the last two decades as farmers find it difficult to generate a steady stream of profit from the crop. The production stood at 67.42 lakh tonnes in the fiscal year of 2000-01, but it fell to 33.33 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. During the period, the acreage under cultivation dropped to 1.92 lakh acres from more than 4.17 lakh acres.
In FY 21, sugarcane production fell nearly 10 per cent from a year ago. Some 36.83 lakh tonnes of sugarcane were grown in FY 2019-20 in 2.13 lakh acres of land. In Tangail, sugarcane farming has gone down this year from a year ago. As a result, the target set by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) could not be achieved. According to the DAE in the district, a goal to grow sugarcane on 500 hectares of land was set for the ongoing season with a view to producing 23,600 tonnes of sugar.
Sugarcane cultivation is also more profitable than other crops since crops such as oil seeds, spices and lentils, and vegetables can be cultivated alongside it as associated crops. The cultivation of associated crops can help offset losses partially if sugarcane is damaged by any natural disasters.
Farmers sought support from the government to boost sugarcane cultivation in the area and bring more land under the cultivation of the crop. Local sugarcane farmers incurred huge losses due to damages caused by the floods last year but none from the agriculture department came forward to provide us any help.
The current production of sugar in Bangladesh is only about 5 per cent of the total demand and the rest is imported. We must say, high yielding sugarcane production should be increased and factories should be modernised to reduce dependence on imports.
