International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Aparna Jayan R, PB Khodifad, SB Patel and Sanjay VC

abstract
Sugarcane is an important commercial crop in South Gujarat. Sugarcane growers face a range of problems affecting productivity and profitability, promoting the need for practical solutions tailored to their circumstances. This study aims to identify the problems and seek suggestions from sugarcane growers to overcome their problems. Ex-post facto research design was employed for the study. The present investigation was conducted in Bharuch, Tapi and Surat districts of South Gujarat. These districts were purposively selected as they have maximum area under sugarcane cultivation. Multistage random sampling method was used for the selection of talukas, villages and respondents. From each district, two talukas were selected randomly, followed by four villages from each taluka were chosen randomly. Subsequently, ten sugarcane growers were randomly selected from each selected village. Thus, the total sample size constituted 240 respondents. Findings of the study revealed that the major problems faced by sugarcane growers included shortage of labour for performing cultivation practices, difficulty of applying pesticides and fertilizers due to tall crop, high cost of fertilizers, incidence of pest and diseases, irregular supply of canal water for irrigation, high labour cost, low price offered for sugarcane produce by sugar factory and irregular supply of electricity. Further, the most important suggestions given by sugarcane growers were that sugar factories should provide costly and automated farm machinery for labour-intensive farm operations, increase the subsidy for fertilizers, training in Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) should be provided, timely supply of canal water for irrigation, increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane, sugar factories should conduct a cost of cultivation survey and price fixation should be based on the survey results and strengthening Custom Hiring Centres in villages to provide access to high-tech implements and equipment in villages.