How Sugarcane Is Draining Vidarbha’s Groundwater

thenewsdirt
Nov 28, 2025
11 min read

Vidarbha has witnessed a gradual yet significant transformation in agricultural patterns over the past two decades. Once defined predominantly by cotton, soybean, and orange orchards, the region has seen the emergence of sugarcane as a crop of increasing importance.

This shift carries profound consequences for the underground water reserves that sustain millions of farming households across the eleven districts comprising the Vidarbha region.

The relationship between sugarcane farming and groundwater depletion in this drought-prone terrain represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing the area today.

Data from multiple sources indicate that groundwater extraction rates in several Vidarbha districts now exceed safe limits, with agricultural practices playing a central role in this decline.

The Expansion of Sugarcane Across Vidarbha Districts

Vidarbha receives lower rainfall than western Maharashtra, with annual precipitation ranging from 700 to 1,100 millimetres across much of the drought-prone districts, though eastern areas such as Gadchiroli receive higher rainfall.

The region has historically cultivated crops suited to semi-arid conditions, though this pattern has shifted progressively.

Despite climatic constraints, sugarcane cultivation has expanded in Vidarbha, particularly in western districts such as Buldhana and Yavatmal, where sugar mills provide an assured market. The region's sugar industry has faced challenges, with several mills experiencing production shortfalls due to insufficient raw material availability.

According to industry records, approximately seven sugar mills in Vidarbha have faced operational disruptions attributable to sugarcane shortage, inadequate water availability, and financial constraints in recent years.

Maharashtra's sugarcane cultivation experienced substantial expansion over three decades. Production rose from 38 million tonnes in 1990-91 to 139 million tonnes in 2020-21, representing a 3.7-fold increase. Acreage expanded 2.5 times during this period, from 444,000 hectares to over one million hectares. This expansion occurred despite warnings from agricultural economists and water resource specialists about sustainability challenges in drought-prone regions.

As of 2023-24, Maharashtra's total sugarcane acreage stood at approximately 14.07 lakh hectares. The 2024-25 season witnessed a reduction in cultivation area to 11.67 lakh hectares, attributed partly to rainfall deficits and water scarcity.

For the 2024-25 crushing season, 200 sugar mills in Maharashtra initiated operations (99 cooperative and 101 private sector), with 82 mills concluding their season by early March 2025.

Vidarbha exported 25,000 tonnes of sugar for the first time in 2022, marking a significant milestone for a region traditionally known for oranges and cotton production. However, this achievement reflects increased crop cultivation rather than improved sustainability.

Water Consumption Patterns and the Demands of Sugarcane

The water requirements of sugarcane cultivation in Maharashtra represent one of the most intensive of any crop grown in the state.

The average water requirement for sugarcane ranges from 1,800 to 2,200 millimetres over its growing cycle, which extends from 12 to 18 months depending on the variety and planting method.

This requirement becomes increasingly problematic when considered against rainfall patterns in Vidarbha, where many areas receive less than 1,000 millimetres annually.

Maharashtra's sugarcane cultivation practices are particularly water-intensive when compared to other major producing states. To produce one kilogram of sugar in Maharashtra requires 2,068 litres of water, whereas Uttar Pradesh achieves the same output with just 1,044 litres. This disparity arises because Maharashtra's sugarcane varieties require irrigation every 15 days over 14 to 17 months, while Uttar Pradesh's crop matures in 9 to 10 months, requiring only 7 to 8 irrigations. Whereas Uttar Pradesh requires an average of 7.6 irrigations for sugarcane, Maharashtra farmers provide an average of 25 irrigations per crop, resulting in Maharashtra being 175.43 percent less efficient than Uttar Pradesh when productivity per unit of water consumption is considered.

The water consumption figures become more significant when placed in the context of Maharashtra's overall irrigation water usage. Sugarcane, grown on approximately 3 percent of the total cropped area in the state, consumes around 60 percent of the irrigation water. This represents a substantial inequity in water distribution, with sugarcane farmers drawing far more than their proportional share of available resources.

For Vidarbha, where irrigation infrastructure remains underdeveloped and nearly 93 percent of agricultural land depends on rainfall, this water intensity creates additional stress. This dependence has turned groundwater into an informal insurance mechanism, with farmers extracting water preemptively based on fears of future drought.

Flood irrigation methods require approximately 3,780 cubic metres per hectare for sugarcane. Drip irrigation can reduce this to 2,339 cubic metres per hectare, representing savings of approximately 38 percent.

Studies indicate that drip irrigation has yielded water savings of around 212 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) per season across Maharashtra while boosting yields by approximately 10 million tonnes. Despite this potential, only approximately 4 lakh hectares of Maharashtra's sugarcane were under drip irrigation as of 2023-24, with adoption rates significantly lower in Vidarbha.

Groundwater Depletion Across the Vidarbha Region

The extraction of groundwater in Vidarbha has reached concerning levels, with multiple districts showing signs of severe overexploitation. Between 2013-14 and 2022-23, the rate of groundwater extraction in key agricultural districts increased sharply.

Amravati district emerged in 2023 as the district with the highest groundwater extraction rate in all of Maharashtra, drawing more than 90 percent of its available reserves.

This level of extraction indicates an ecological imbalance where water demand surpasses natural replenishment capacity.

According to the Central Ground Water Board's 2023 National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, out of 6,553 assessment units nationally, 736 units (11.23 percent) are categorised as over-exploited, with extraction exceeding annual recharge. An additional 199 units (3.04 percent) are classified as critical, with extraction levels between 90-100 percent. In Vidarbha specifically, critical and overexploited groundwater conditions are concentrated in the cotton-growing districts.

A 2018 survey by Maharashtra's Groundwater Survey and Development Agency found that 71 percent of the state's 353 talukas reported a drop of more than one metre in groundwater levels compared to the five-year average. Groundwater depletion was highest in the arid Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. As many as 40 percent of the 252 talukas reporting decline in groundwater levels were located in Vidarbha, with 22 percent in Marathwada.

The geological characteristics of Vidarbha compound these challenges. Approximately 82 percent of Maharashtra, including much of Vidarbha, sits on hard rock basalt formations. These formations limit groundwater storage capacity and reduce aquifer recharge rates. Once water is extracted from these formations, natural processes to replenish them operate slowly and often inadequately for the needs of modern farming.

Bore well depths have increased substantially as farmers chase declining water tables. In parts of Katol and Amravati, water levels have reached 800 to 850 feet, with projections warning they may fall further to 1,200 feet if current extraction patterns persist. Bore wells dug to 300 feet are increasingly failing to strike water in some areas. This depth expansion reflects intensified groundwater stress rather than geological improvements.

Dam storage in Vidarbha has shown a persistent decline over recent years. By April 2025, the Gosikhurd dam in Bhandara reported only 30.2 percent storage, while smaller dams including Dhapewada in Gondia at 26.6 percent and Nand in Nagpur at 13.1 percent approached critical levels.

Khadakpurna reservoir, serving parts of Buldhana and Jalna, was recorded at just 4.12 percent capacity by April 2025, having become completely depleted in mid-2024.

The Katepurna dam in Akola similarly reported critically low levels around 27.2 percent.

The 2025 government assessment revealed that nearly 90 percent of water conservation structures in Nagpur and Amravati districts were non-functional.

A total of 10,000 such structures, with 6,500 in Amravati and 3,500 in Nagpur, had deteriorated due to long-term administrative neglect. These failures coincide with severe drops in groundwater availability, compounding the crisis.

The Economics Driving Sugarcane Cultivation

Understanding why farmers continue to grow sugarcane despite water constraints requires examining the economic incentives embedded in Maharashtra's agricultural system.

Sugarcane offers farmers an assured price mechanism through the Fair and Remunerative Price system, unlike cotton or pulses, whose prices fluctuate based on market conditions.

This pricing structure, combined with sugar mill infrastructure providing ready markets, creates strong economic incentives that override water conservation considerations.

The cost of cultivation for sugarcane in Bhandara district was calculated at approximately Rs 92,949 per hectare (Cost C2) with average gross returns of Rs 148,101 per hectare, yielding net returns of Rs 55,325 per hectare with an input-output ratio of 1.59. While district-specific, these figures indicate relatively attractive returns sugarcane can provide compared to alternatives such as cotton.

India's Ethanol Blending Programme has added another dimension to sugarcane economics. Sugar mills now have dual market options, producing either sugar for food or diverting cane towards ethanol production based on profitability. The government lifted quantitative restrictions on ethanol production for the 2025-26 season, signalling continued expansion of sugarcane-based industry demand.

Approximately 82 percent of India's sugarcane is grown in areas with low rainfall, including parts of Vidarbha, despite repeated recommendations to limit cultivation in such zones. Water management experts have consistently advised that to ensure water for drinking and farming, sugarcane cultivation must be regulated strictly in drought-affected regions.

In the 2023-24 sugar season, 208 sugar mills in Maharashtra crushed 1,076 lakh tonnes of cane and produced 110.2 lakh tonnes of sugar, the highest in the country. For 2024-25, production dropped to approximately 81 lakh tonnes, a decline attributed to rainfall deficits and reduced cane yields.

Irrigation Infrastructure Deficits and Water Management Challenges

Vidarbha faces a substantial irrigation backlog that compounds challenges of water-intensive agriculture.

Only 35 percent of proposed irrigation projects in Vidarbha have been completed. The state requires approximately Rs 43,560 crore to complete 123 irrigation projects to enhance irrigation potential, with officials estimating this could take eight to ten years at current budget allocation rates.

The irrigation deficit is stark. Approximately 10.61 lakh hectares in Vidarbha still lack water access. At the current recovery rate of merely 4 percent of the backlog annually, completion could extend until 2149.

The incomplete status of major projects such as the Gosikhurd National Irrigation Project on the Wainganga River in Bhandara district exemplifies these delays. Work commenced in 1987, yet remains approximately 60 percent complete, with 223 villages affected by rehabilitation issues.

Drip irrigation adoption, which could substantially reduce water consumption, remains limited. Studies have demonstrated that drip irrigation can save 40 to 60 percent of water compared to conventional flood irrigation, whilst increasing yields by 31 to 46 percent. The Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority has attempted to make drip irrigation mandatory for cash crops, yet implementation has been delayed repeatedly.

Less than 20 percent of sugarcane growers had adopted drip irrigation in the state as of recent assessments.

Farmers report substantial delays in receiving government subsidies for drip irrigation systems, creating barriers to adoption, particularly for small and marginal farmers. Power supply patterns also affect irrigation efficiency.

In Vidarbha, government electricity supply for agriculture is typically limited to nighttime hours, creating concentrated drawdown on aquifers when thousands of pumps operate simultaneously. This limitation results in reduced ability to monitor irrigation actively, fostering overwatering and runoff that further reduces water use efficiency.

The Human Cost of Water Scarcity

The convergence of water scarcity, agricultural distress, and groundwater depletion has contributed to persistent hardship across Vidarbha. Maharashtra recorded 2,851 farmer suicides in 2023, with significant shares from Vidarbha and Marathwada.

By 2024, this number fell to 2,635, though recent months showed accelerating trends.

Between January and March 2025, Maharashtra recorded 767 farmer suicides, representing an alarming trajectory. Marathwada alone recorded 822 farmer suicides during 2024, with Beed district leading at 160 deaths.

The case of Kailash Arjun Nagre exemplifies the desperation. This 43-year-old farmer from Deulgaon Raja taluka in Buldhana district, a recipient of the Young Farmer Award in 2020, died by suicide on 13 March 2025 after consuming poison.

He had been fighting for irrigation water from the Khadakpurna Dam for 14 villages. His three-page suicide note stated: "The administration is ignoring farmers' issues. Do not remove my body until our demands are met." He left behind a wife, three children, and a father. His death prompted thousands of farmers to block roads until top officials visited the site.

The deployment of water tankers has become a regular feature of summers across the region. By May 2024, 10,572 villages and hamlets faced acute water scarcity and were being supplied with drinking water by tankers, up from only 1,108 villages during the same period the previous year. This ninefold increase within a single year demonstrates the accelerating severity of the water crisis.

Women in remote areas bear particular burdens. In Yavatmal's Arni block, women have been reported walking two to three kilometres daily to fetch water as local handpumps and wells ran dry. In tribal areas of Melghat in Amravati district, women walk several kilometres uphill every day to access water, carrying pots on their heads and experiencing chronic health complications as a result.

The trajectory of sugarcane cultivation in Vidarbha and across Maharashtra reflects decades of policy decisions favouring the sugar industry. The Madhav Chitale Water and Irrigation Commission report in 1999 recommended banning sugarcane in rain-deficient areas receiving below 700 millimetres of annual rainfall. This recommendation has never been implemented.

A 2007 Comptroller and Auditor General report found that Maharashtra's Sugar Commissionerate sanctioned crushing capacities without considering water availability. The only existing regulation requiring sugar mills to stay 15 kilometres (later increased to 25 kilometres) apart was designed to protect factory interests rather than water resources.

In 2016, during a severe drought, the state called for a temporary five-year ban on sanctioning new sugar mills in Marathwada. However, this verbal statement did not suppress production. Data analysis shows production increased nearly sixfold on average from 2016 to 2022.

The recent removal of quantitative restrictions on ethanol production for the 2025-26 season signals continued expansion of the sugarcane-based industry. This decision occurred after improved rainfall over two monsoon seasons expanded sugarcane cultivation, leading to expectations of higher supplies.

The Maharashtra Groundwater Act of 2009 contains provisions prohibiting the drilling of deep wells below 60 metres. However, implementation remains weak, with minimal oversight or enforcement.

Water experts have noted that "there are no serious efforts at any levels implementing that Act on the ground or regulating it, supervising its implementation."

The present situation represents a complex interplay of farmer livelihood needs, industrial interests, and environmental constraints. While individual farmers make rational economic decisions in choosing to cultivate sugarcane where water is accessible, the cumulative effect of these decisions on shared aquifer resources remains largely unaddressed by existing regulatory frameworks.

The groundwater sustaining Vidarbha's agriculture continues to decline, even as policy choices expand the crop most responsible for its extraction.