Sugarcane cultivation in Chittoor and Tirupati falls 96%

Sugarcane cultivation in the combined Chittoor and Tirupati districts of Andhra Pradesh has declined by more than 96% since 2013. Once a major agricultural stronghold in the Rayalaseema region, active commercial cane cultivation now covers only 4,835 hectares, representing approximately 3% to 4% of its peak acreage.

The collapse is attributed to the closure of regional crushing infrastructure, mismanagement within the cooperative sector, and intense competition from private mills in neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. At its peak, the undivided Chittoor district operated six major sugar mills that supported over 100,000 farming families.

Key cooperative units, including Chittoor Co-operative Sugars and Sri Venkateswara Co-operative Sugars, are non-functional, with government efforts shifting toward asset liquidation and debt settlement rather than revival. In the private sector, Natems Sugars, Sudalagunta Sugars, and KBD Sugars have all ceased operations or faced prolonged closures due to heavy losses, leaving many farmers with significant unpaid dues. SNJ Sugars in Nelavoy remains the only operational plant in the region, though it is functioning on a limited scale.