Status, Challenges, and Prospects of Farm Mechanization in Sugarcane Cultivation in India

Indian agriculture is undergoing a structural transformation marked by rising labour scarcity, increasing wage rates, and growing dependence on migratory labour. These changes have intensified the need for farm mechanization, particularly in labour-intensive crops such as sugarcane. Sugarcane cultivation involves multiple operations extending over a long crop cycle and accounts for a major share of the cost of sugar production. Despite the availability of mechanization technologies, their adoption remains uneven and largely confined to land preparation. This review paper synthesizes existing knowledge on labour dynamics, the need and scope of farm mechanization, and the current status of mechanization in sugarcane cultivation in India, with special emphasis on productivity, cost efficiency, and sustainability. The paper also identifies major constraints limiting mechanization adoption and outlines future research and policy directions to strengthen mechanized sugarcane production systems.