INTRODUCTION. Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops grown in. India, providing employment to a large number of people. It

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1 1 INTRODUCTION 1. Significance of sugarcane Cultivation Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops grown in India, providing employment to a large number of people. It is a leading cash crop of Upper Krishna Basin. Owing to the agro-climatic suitability for cane cultivation and subsequent development of sugar industry during the last thirty years, Upper Krishna Basin has experienced considerable increase in area under sugarcane from 20,604 in to 79,017 hectares U in 197^-75. Recently in India, -he consumption of sugar, an essential commodity, has increased tram 26 lakh tonnes in to 52 lakh tonnes in Cohsidering one-third share in the total sugar production of the country the state of Maharashtra has to produce 17 lakh tonnes of sugar. Similarly, the region under study accounts for one third of sugar production of the State. The region produces 6 lakh tonnes of sugar per annum. Besides, with the consumption of 8 kilograms per head, projected need would be 3.8 lakh tonnes in the region. Upper Krishna Basin is also well known for its 'gur* production which is exported to other states and outside the country. Although sugarcane occupies about 7.19 percent of the cultivated area, it is significant for the regions economy and

2 is responsible for transformation of subsistence farming to commercial farming. Sugarcane cultivation has brought about several changes in the region#s economy. Firstly# it provides raw material to sugar and gur industry which in turn exert their favourable influence on rural economy. Secondly# sugarcane has raised the income of cultivators who are now in a position to allocate more funds to the development of agriculture leading to an increase in productivity. The additional income strengthens purchasing power of the farmers wnich in turn helps in the improvement of living standard and status. Thirdly, sugarcane cultivation# through sugar factories# has to a great extent minimised the intensity of rural unemployment and rural-urban migration. The rapid growth of population has resulted in unemployment and consequent rural-urban migration for seeking jobs. The sugarcane based industries will help to absorb some of the unemployed population. The sugar industry has enhanced agricultural productivity by providing various inputs like fertilisers# machinery# technical know-how. financial assistance etc. The increased sugar production leads to higher export earnings. The allied industries producing alcohol# spirit# chemicals# cattle feeds# fertilizers# papers etc. have also strengthened the economy of the region. Fourthly# sugar industry is located within the cane growing areas which needs infrastructural facilities like transportation# communication# rural electrification# irrigation#

3 agro-*serviee centres etc. Besides# sugar industry provides assured market for sugarcane. As sucn# tne cultivators tend to devote their irrigated lands to sugarcane cultivation. With the development of sugarcane cultivation# Upper Krishna Basin has emerged as one of the agriculturally prosperous regions in the country. The sugar industry# however# suffers from the shortage of sugarcane. The area under sugarcane though increased# is subject to fluctuations. 3esides# there has been variation in the spatial pattern of cane area. The production of sugarcane is influenced by the combined effect of physico-socio-economic factors in the region which leads to regional disparity in cane productivity. The present work primarily aims at analysing the spatial distribution of sugarcane cultivation, highlighting the regional disparities therein. An attempt is also made to study the spatial organisation of physical# social and economic bases of cane cultivation. The general framework of agriculture is also studied to determine relative position of sugarcane in the region. 2. Selection of the Region Upper Krishna Basin is one of the important tracts of the State noted for sugarcane cultivation involving diversity of features for which it has been purposefully selected for making an humble contribution to the field of Economic

4 Geography. In addition, the agrarian base# rural based cultural traditions and familiarity of the author with all these motivated the author to undertake this study. 3. Data Base and Field Work The primary data used in this work are based on intensive field work and have been verified by the author. The secondary data regarding sugarcane with its different bases and cropping pattern are collected from district census handbooks# socioeconomic abstracts# annual reports of sugar factories# journals like "Indian Sugar"# "Sugar News"# "Godwa" (Marathi) and Gazetteers. The quinquennial averages for the year and have been abstracted in order to avoid the fluctuations in different variables. The data for irrigation is obtained from Ground Water Survey and Department Agency, Pune. Apart from the secondary sources# questionnaires were circularted to village revenue officers of 237 villages selected with the help of random sample table. For detailed information on specific aspects frequent visits were made to taluka# district head quarters and places of case studies. The individual interviews of cane cultivators were conducted by the author. 4. Limitations of Data * Taluka is the unit of study in the present work. The detailed data at taluka level were not available in published records. The data regarding cultivators and agricultural

5 labourers in 1951 and about fertilizers upto 1961 were not available. The yield per hectare of different crops and especially of sugarcane at taluka level were also not available in the published records* These limitations are however# eliminated by employing questionnaire at the villages selected. Various physico-socio-economic factors influence entire system of agriculture in general and it would be difficult to analyse their influence on each crop separately. Hence* these variables have been studied in the context of agrarian structure in general and sugarcane cultivation in particular. 5. Methodology The collected data were processed and represented by statistical and cartographic techniques. The details regarding various methods and techniques have been discussed at appropriate places in the text. The indices of distribution and concentration have been used in the study of cane cultivation. The association of variables and parameters has been tested through correlation analysis. Since the main focus of attention is on sugarcane cultivation* the study of other variables is made in the context of sugarcane. 6. Organisation of the Study The entire study is organised into seven chapters. The first chapter includes a discussion of the physical bases* whereas the second deals with socio-economic bases of cane cultivation. The agricultural framework comprising landuse

6 and cropping pattern# agricultural regionalisation# is the subject matter of the third chapter. The fourth chapter deals with the cultivation of sugarcane in Upper Krishna Basin in which spatial pattern of area under cane and its productivity are highlighted. The planning aspects of the development of sugarcane have also been discussed in the same. Case studies have been undertaken to study cane cultivation in detail in the fifth chapter. These case studies represent the study of sugarcane cultivation at micro-level. The places of case studies were selected with the help of random sample table to avoid bias. Chapter six is concerned with the processing of sugarcane produced in the region and deals with study of sugar industry and gur industry. The last chapter attempts to summarize the findings of the study. In the style of presentation# references are given at the end of each chapter. Foot notes# wherever necessary# refer to the source of information. It is difficult to include all the data collected and processed in the thesis. Hence# only relevant and necessary information and data are represented in the form of appendices at the end of the work. The tables have been used at proper places to make the discussion comprehensible and relevant. The cartograpnic work in the form of maps and diagrams has been done fcy the author in the departmental cartographic laboratory. The author may be excused for the errors and repetitions remained through oversight in the text. The conclusions drawn and the views expressed in this study are of the author alone

7 7 7. Some Important studies The geographical studies on sugarcane cultivation as such are relatively rare. However# mention may be made of some works which have been undertaken in India and abroad. Kuriyan (1940) described salient features of sugarcane cultivation in India highlighting the basic factors like climate, soil# water etc. Singh (1965) studied agro-economic factors influencing sugarcane in Naini Tal# U.P. Whereas Kataria (1969) examined the trends in the distributional pattern of arable land under sugarcane in the Karnal district during On the basis of change in proportion of cane area to total area he identified four zones viz. zones of significant gains# moderate gains# insignificant gains and negative gains. Further# he divided the region into five regions on the basis of distribution# ranking status# volume and intensity of change. Matuur (1960) also studied the spatial pattern of cane cultivation highlighting the influence of physical and socio-economic factors in Western Uttar Pradesh. Tewari (1969) pointed out some important problems of sugar industry viz. shortage of cane# bad management# unhealthy competition among the mills etc. in Eastern U.P. He made a case to relocate sugar factories and suggested some measures to increase crushing capacity of sugar factories. For the smooth functioning of the proposed units he also suggested to check kandsari and gur making. Farooqi (1970) examined the influence of climate on the spatial distribution of cane cultivation in Gorakhpur and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh. * k

8 8 Among the geographers outside India, Auty (1976) analysed the size and survival of sugar factory in the Commonwealth Caribbean. His analysis is based on a four stage model of geographical evolution linked to increasing threshold size and a microanalytical framework for measuring economies of scale. He observed that the smaller units were unable to expand their range in the face of increasing threshold requirements. Furthermore, Auty (1975) worked on technological change in plantation transport system of the same region. The introduction of truck transport encouraged mall firms and truck could economically service small pockets of cane growing land. He observed that during the nimteen-thirties, the large factories relied on railway systems to secure adequate supplies of cane, since the ox-cart was unsuited to the length of haul. Smith (1978) studied climatic requirements of sugarcane. According to him temperature of 10 c is a lower limit for cane growth below which cane growth will cease. Siddiqi (1968) studied the evolution of sugar industry in Pakistan examining the problems and prospects of this industry. He suggested bo increase cane production and factories should be established in cane lands. Bischoff(1975) attempted comparative study of sugarcane cultivation and its processing in tropical and sub-tropical zones of India. He highlighted the problems of sugar industry in the north India and impact of gur prices on the diversion of cane to sugar and gur industries. He also examined the superiority of tropical India in cane cultivation and cane processing. 0 0

9 In fact, considerable work has been done by botanists and experts on sugarcane physiology. Working on germination of sugarcane, Krishna Iyengar <1951) found that top two sets were suitable for October planting. Rege et al.(1941j examined the growth of roots in shallower soil and Negi (1962) studied the root system of cane. Working on water requirement of sugarcane, Rege et al. (1943) determined suitable schedules for thedeccan Canal Tract. Raheja worked on irrigation schedules in the context of soil moisture. Parthasarthy and Rao (1951) examined the relationship between tissue and sugarcane contents. Drought resistance variaties were studied in non-irrigated areas of Bihar by Khanna and Raheja (1947), Gill and Singh (1959) investigated levels during hot weather. Sastry and Venkatachari (1961 and 1962) carried detailed studies on tillering in eksali' and 'adsali' crops in Andhra Pradesh. There are also numerous studies on chemical fertilizers used for cane cultivation. The works of Rfege et al (1944), Asana (1949, Lai (1951), Narsimhan and Mohan Rao (1960), Lai and Singh (1959), Lakshmikanthan et al. (1964) have revealed the importance of chemical fertilizers in cane growth. Vijayasaradhy (1960) investigated the effect of low temperature on setts 36 cane varieties. It would be evident from the above that the works on sugarcane cultivation of geographical relavance are very few.

10 10 RSFERgMCSS 1* R*D«1949 The absorption of nitrogen by the sugarcane plant at different stages of growth. Ann.Bot.il.S., Vol. 13. p AUty.R.M Technological change in plantation transport systems: A Caribbean example ; the Journal of Tropical Geography. Vol.41. Dec., pp AUty.R.M Caribbean sugar factory size and survival. Annals of the Association of American Geographers; vol.66. Mo.l. March, pp , Bischoff.S Cultivation and Processing of Sugarcane in Tropical a nd Subtropical Tones of India. Applied Sciences and Development Vol.6. pp Farooqi.M.Y Climo-edaphic Factors of sugarcane cultivation in Gorkhapur and Deoria Districts. The Geographical Observer; Vol.6. pp Gill.H.S. and Singh#H* 1959 Studies on the physiological basis of drought resistance in sugarcane; Indian Journal of Sugarcane Research and Development, vol.1.mo.3.p.143.

11 u 7. Kataria. M.S Spatial changes in sugarcane cultivation in Karnal district National Geographical Journal of India;Vol.15.No.3 and 4 pp Khana.K.L. and Raheja.P.C Preliminary studies in respiration of sugarcane in situ. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol.8, p Kr ishna Iyengar, C.V Interseasonal growth variation and cultivation of sugarcane; Nature, pp Kuriyan. G. 194D Sugarcane cultivation in India; Journal of Madras Geographical Association. p# Lal.K.N. and Mehrotra.Q.N Physiological basis of drought resistence in sugarcane; 1st Bienn. Conf.Sugarcane Research Works. India. Part II No.2. p Lal.K.N. and Singh,J.N Effect of phosphorus deficiency on the carbohydrate fractions of component parts of sugarcane at successive stages of growth; Indian Journal of sugarcane Research and Development. Vol.4. No.l. p.l. /

12 ^akshmikanthara, M et.al. Studies on the determination of index tissues for plant nutrients of sugarcane. Indian Journal of Sugarcane Research and Development. yol#8 No.2# p Mathur,V.S Sugarcane in Western U.P., Indian Geographical Journal, p Narsimham.R.L. I960 and Mohan Rao,N*V. Uptake and utilization of nitrogen by sugarcane as influenced by the time application? Indian Journal of Sugarcane Research and Development. Vol.4, No.2, p Negi, O.P Studies in wild saccarum spontaneum L.; Indian journal of Sugarcane Research and Development, Vol.6, No.4. p*20l. 17. Parthasarthy,S and Rao.R.M.Q. Tissue moisture and its relation to sugarcane ripening? 1st Bienn.Conf. Sugarcane Research Works India, Part II, No.2, p Raheja,P.C Relative irrigation requirements of sugarcane;proceeedings of Natural Institute of science,india,mo.lo. p Rege,R.D. and Wagle,P.V Problem of sugarcane physiology in the Deccan Canal tract III, The root system; Indian Journal of Agricul- / tural Science Vol. II, p.356.

13 20. Rege,R.D* et.al 1943 Problem of sugarcane physiology in the Deccan canal tract ^, Water requirement, Indian Journal of Agricultural Science. vol.l3,p Rege.R.D. et.al 1944 Problem of sugarcane physiology in Deccan Canal tract VI, Mineral Nutrition (B)Nitrogen; Indian Journal of Agricultural Science. Vol. 14, p.l. 22. Siddiqui,M.I sugar manufacturing in Pakistan 21st International Geographical Congress, Selected papers on Economic Geography. Vol Singh,Prithvi Pal 1966 Agro-Economic studies on sugarcane in Naini Tal.Tarai,U.P. (Ph.D. thesis), Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad. 24. Smith, S.I Perceiving and using climate in a 25. Tewari,C.B tropical environment? Essays on meterology and climatology; in honour of Richmond, w.longley; Deptt. of Geography, Uty.of Alberta, Canada, pp# Sugar Industry in Eastern U.P.; A plea for Redistribution? Geographer, Vol.7, No.l, pp

14 26. Tewari,C.B Dispersal of sugar industry in Eastern U.P. India? Selected Papers on Economic Geography. 21st international Geographical Congress# India# Vol Vijayasaradhy# 1960 Study of the tissue reaction to low temperatures and the assessment of frost resistance in sugarcane# Indian Journal of Sugarcane Research and Development# Vol.5#No.l#p*49.