"Cost- Benefit Analysis of Sugar Industry in Ulbarga District"

Sugar Industry is the second largest agro based industry in India, next to textile. This is the only industry, located in the rural part of the country. About five crores of sugarcane farmers, their dependants and a large mass of labourers are involved in sugarcane cultivation, harvesting and other related ancillary activities. This constitutes 7.5 per cent of the rural population. Besides, over a five lakhs of skilled and semi-skilled workers, mostly from the rural areas, are employed in the sugar industry, and the annual wage bill of the industry is around Rs.1,000 crores, per year. Presently, Indian sugar industry contributes 15 per cent of the world sugar production. Though, there are more than 700 sugar mills in different stages of installation, almost 450 mills alone are in operation. The annual turnover of the industry goes to Rs.30,000 crores, and cane growers, use to get Rs.6,000 crores, as sugarcane price.