Constraints of Sugarcane Farmers During Cultivation and Marketing in Kerala, India

The study analysed the constraints faced by farmers during cultivation and marketing of sugarcane in Kerala. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted for the data collection and information was obtained from 120 sugarcane farmers and 10 marketing intermediaries. The farmers ranked and used Garrett's ranking technique to analyze the main production and marketing constraints. The major production constraints identified were wild animal and rodent attack, followed by shortage of labour and high labour cost, high cost of inputs and delay in harvesting. Price fluctuations of sugarcane and absence of regulated markets were major marketing constraints. Valuable suggestions were implementing effective measures to mitigate wildlife damage, government should purchase farmers products at reasonable price.