Labour Absorption in Sugarcane Cultivation in India: An Agro-Economic Analysis across States, Agro-Climatic Zones and Farm Sizes

This paper examines trends in labour use in sugarcane cultivation across major sugarcane-growing states in India from 2000 to 2017, with a detailed analysis across farm sizes and agro-climatic zones in Maharashtra (tropical region) and Uttar Pradesh (sub-tropical region). At the national level, labour use in sugarcane cultivation declined by 15.4 % to 1337.7 hours per hectare during QE 2016-17 compared to QE 2004-05, largely due to increasing mechanization. Labour use remained higher in tropical states, with Maharashtra recording 1728.8 hours per hectare compared to 1191.4 hours in Uttar Pradesh. The decline in labour use was sharper in tropical states (30-43 %) than in Uttar Pradesh (1.6 %). Human labour constituted about one-third of total cultivation cost across India. Zone- and farm-level analysis revealed contrasting trends in labour absorption, with increases in selected intensive sugarcane zones and larger farms despite overall mechanization. Labour productivity increased by 28.1 %, mainly driven by labour-displacing mechanization rather than technological improvements in cultivation practices. The study highlights the need to complement mechanization with yield-enhancing innovations, strengthen non-farm employment opportunities, and ensure effective enforcement of labour standards in the sugarcane sector.