Digitalisation and Sustainability Challenges in Sugarcane Agriculture: An Analysis of Post- Modern Transformation in Crop Production Practices

This research paper examines the intersection of digitalisation and sustainability within sugarcane agriculture in Karnataka, India—a region where sugarcane remains a key commercial and rural livelihood crop. In the context of post-modern agricultural transformation, the adoption of digital technologies such as precision farming tools, remote sensing, mobile advisory platforms, and data-driven decision support systems is reshaping traditional cultivation practices. These innovations have the potential to improve resource-use efficiency, optimize irrigation and nutrient management, reduce input costs, and enhance climate resilience among sugarcane farmers.However, the transition toward digital agriculture also presents significant sustainability challenges in Karnataka. Differential access to digital infrastructure, limited digital literacy among smallholder farmers, high implementation costs, and inadequate institutional support contribute to a widening digital divide. Environmental concerns such as groundwater depletion, soil degradation, and climate variability remain pressing, even as digital tools are promoted as part of climate-smart agriculture initiatives. Furthermore, socio-economic disparities and policy gaps complicate efforts to achieve both technological inclusion and ecological sustainability in sugarcane production systems.Using an interdisciplinary analytical framework, this study explores how digitalisation influences resource management, farmer decision-making, and sustainability outcomes in Karnataka’s sugarcane sector.