Mechanizing Sugarcane Harvesting in India: A Review

Abstract

In the contemporary scenario, agriculture holds a pivotal position in India, surpassing other sectors in significance. The cultivation of sugarcane alone encompasses approximately 4.6 million hectares of land, positioning India as the second-largest contributor to global sugarcane growth. However, a burgeoning issue faced by farmers is the escalating labor shortage in rural areas, attributed to the migration of people to urban centers. Sugarcane stands as a crucial crop in India, and the harvesting process has undergone mechanization with the introduction of small sugarcane harvesting machines. To address the challenges of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and serviceability, new mechanisms have been incorporated into existing machines. Despite the availability of advanced sugarcane harvesters in the market, their high costs pose a significant hurdle. Presently, the country grapples with surplus sugar production, leading to an upsurge in the costs associated with sugarcane cultivation and harvesting. To navigate these challenges, the imperative lies in the development and adoption of cost-effective, small-scale sugarcane harvesting machines.