Severe Weather Hits India’s Sugar Production, Threatens Exports

India, the world's second-largest sugar producer, is facing a major decline in sugarcane yields due to extreme weather conditions. Drought followed by excessive rainfall has significantly harmed sugarcane crops, with projections indicating that production may fall below consumption levels. This situation threatens India’s ability to meet domestic demand and curtails export possibilities until the end of the season in September 2025.

B.B. Thombare, president of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association, highlighted the impact of fluctuating weather patterns, which have included a lack of water during summer followed by excessive rain during the monsoon season. A local farmer reported that yields plummeted to 80 tons per hectare in 2024, down from the typical 120 to 130 tons, despite efforts to mitigate the losses. Alongside extreme weather, farmers are also dealing with red rot disease, a fungal infection that further limits crop yields.

Experts believe the adverse weather conditions are exacerbated by climate change, which may lead to increased frequency and severity of droughts and floods. India's carbon dioxide emissions make it one of the top polluters globally, with significant implications for agricultural productivity.

To reduce the risks associated with climate change, India is expected to take action to lower its carbon emissions by four billion tons from 2020 to 2030, particularly by decreasing the reliance on coal power. The shift to renewable energy sources could alleviate some of the extreme weather challenges facing the agricultural sector, including sugarcane production.