Sugarcane gains ground as tobacco acreage shrinks in Belagavi

Belagavi: Sugarcane, tobacco and turmeric remain the key commercial crops in Belagavi district. However, the area under sugarcane cultivation has seen a steady rise each year, while tobacco acreage has been on the decline.

The increase in sugarcane cultivation is attributed to sustained demand for sugar and its by-products, while the fall in tobacco area is linked to govt and health department awareness drives on its harmful effects. The shifting crop pattern is gradually reshaping the district’s agricultural landscape.Farmers continue to favour sugarcane despite recurring disputes with factories over pricing and pending payments.Crops are grown on over 7.5 lakh hectares in the district, with sugarcane occupying nearly half the area. The crop covered 2.6 lakh hectares in 2022-23, 2.8 lakh hectares in 2023-24, 2.9 lakh hectares in 2024-25 and 3 lakh hectares in 2025-26. The area is expected to cross three lakh hectares in 2026-27. Notably, 44% of Karnataka’s sugarcane area is in Belagavi alone.Agriculture officials said sugarcane may not yield high profits, but losses are lower compared to other crops.

Rising input costs, labour shortage and price issues are pushing farmers towards alternatives. Once planted, sugarcane can be harvested for four years. Growing demand for ethanol and biofuel is also driving its expansion.Belagavi has 28 sugar factories producing about 2.6 crore metric tonnes of sugar annually. The crop is mainly grown in Chikodi, Gokak, Athani and Yaragatti taluks.Joint director of agriculture HD Kolekar said farmers are adopting intercropping with pulses and vegetables and earning better returns.

Sugarcane area is increasing steadily each year.Tobacco cropTobacco is cultivated in Nippani, Chikodi and Hukkeri taluks. Once a major crop, it is now losing ground as farmers shift to alternatives such as soybean, chickpea and wheat.In 2023, tobacco was grown on 8,400 hectares, which has now dropped to below 4,800 hectares. Awareness campaigns on health risks have had an impact, with nearly 80% of farmers opting for alternative crops, according to the agriculture department.Deputy agriculture director Sahadev Yaragoppa said farmers are steadily moving away from tobacco, encouraged by the department.