Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to boost Sugar industry revival by expanding sugarcane cultivation and improving the operational capacity of sugar mills across Telangana.
Jaju chaired a meeting of the committee constituted under Government Order No. 86 to revive the state’s sugar industry and increase sugarcane cultivation. Agriculture Secretary Surendra Mohan, Industries Special Secretary Krishna Aditya, farmer representatives and agricultural scientists attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary said Telangana has 12 sugar mills, but only seven are currently operational. However, these mills require nearly 50 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane every year to operate at full capacity. At present, the state produces only about 20 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane annually.
Sugar industry revival linked to sugarcane expansion
According to Jaju, sugarcane cultivation requires less water than paddy. Moreover, farmers can increase yields and reduce cultivation costs by adopting modern techniques such as drip irrigation.
He said around 19,000 farmers are cultivating sugarcane on nearly 26,000 hectares across the state during the 2026–27 agricultural season.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary directed officials to study incentive schemes and policies implemented in other states. Thereafter, they should submit a detailed report on measures to expand sugarcane cultivation and improve the availability of raw sugarcane for mills.
Farmer representatives urged the government to provide a ₹500-per-tonne incentive for sugarcane, similar to the support available for paddy farmers. They also said high cultivation costs and labour shortages remain major challenges for sugarcane growers.
Additionally, the representatives pointed out that sugarcane supports the production of sugar, ethanol and electricity. They requested the government to provide greater support for the sector.