Exploring The Sugarcane Sector: Analyzing Challenges And Opportunities In Haryana's Sugar Industry, With A Spotlight On Shahabad District, Kurukshetra

Abstract

Sugarcane stands as one of India's foremost commercial crops. India ranks as the second-largest consumer of sugar globally and holds the title for the highest sugarcane production, trailing only behind Brazil. The nation boasts a total of 566 sugar factories, with the cooperative sector claiming a significant share of 315, constituting 56% of the total establishments. Consequently, India's economic and social progress is deeply intertwined with the cooperative sugar industry's vitality. Moreover, sugarcane has increasingly become a preferred crop [1]for generating environmentally sustainable and renewable energy in recent years. Despite witnessing an uptick in energy consumption and economic advantages, sugarcane cultivation confronts a plethora of challenges. This article delineates the potential opportunities and obstacles confronting cooperative sugar industries, with a particular focus on those situated in Shahabad, within the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India. Furthermore, the article accentuates the imperative need for addressing pivotal challenges and ensuring sustained and robust growth within the industry.