Sugarcane Cultivation and Sugar Industry in Bihar: Historical Perspectives, Contemporary Challenges, and Policy Pathways

Author(s)	Dr. Kumar Desh Deepak
Country	India
Abstract	Bihar occupies a unique and historically significant place in India's sugarcane and sugar industry, once accounting for nearly 40 percent of the country's total sugar production. However, the state has experienced a dramatic structural decline to merely 3–4 percent of national output in recent years. This article examines the historical evolution of sugarcane cultivation and the sugar industry in Bihar from ancient times to the present, analyzing trends in production, productivity, and mill performance. Drawing on primary data from the Economic Survey of Bihar (2008–2022) and secondary literature, the paper traces Bihar's trajectory from a leading sugar producer to one grappling with waterlogging, irrigation deficits, mill closures, and farm to factory supply disruptions. The paper argues that while contemporary policy interventions, including the Incentive Package 2014 and the Chief Minister Sugarcane Development Programme, present credible pathways for revival, sustained and coordinated action across agricultural, industrial, and institutional dimensions is essential for Bihar to reclaim its historical stature.
Keywords	MSME, Sugar Mills, Mudra Yojana, Agriculture Productivity
Field	Sociology > Economics
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-05-19
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.78985

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