Five farmers who multiplied their incomes by moving away from sugarcane farming

Sugarcane was one of India’s most dependable cash crops until a few years back. Guaranteed procurement, mill-linked payments, and familiarity made it the default choice for farmers across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu.

But that certainty is now changing. Rising input costs, delayed payments from sugar mills, falling groundwater levels, and growing climate stress have made sugarcane an increasingly risky crop, especially for small and marginal farmers.

Sugarcane is among the most water-intensive crops in the country, requiring 1,500 to 2,500 mm of water over its growth cycle. In regions facing erratic monsoons and depleting aquifers, this has pushed cultivation costs up while yields remain stagnant. 

Moreover, the long crop cycle of 10 to 14 months, labour dependency, and mounting debt have led many farmers to question whether sugarcane still makes economic sense.

At the same time, markets are opening up for high-value horticulture, fruits, vegetables, agroforestry, and niche crops. Improved access to drip irrigation, better planting materials, local mandis, direct marketing, and lower maintenance costs have enabled farmers to experiment beyond traditional crops. These alternatives often require less water, mature faster, and offer higher returns per acre.

Across India, a growing group of farmers has shown that moving away from sugarcane can be a strategic game changer. From custard apple orchards and drumstick plantations to diversified horticulture and agroforestry, these agripreneurs have reworked their land use to earn more with fewer resources.

Here are five farmer stories that show how crop shifts can multiply incomes and make farming more profitable.

1. Shridhar Divekar: Custard apple farming increases income to Rs 6 lakh per acre

Shridhar Divekar’s decision to move away from sugarcane in drought-prone Maharashtra was driven by water stress and stagnant returns. He replaced cane with custard apple, a hardy fruit crop suited to dry conditions. 

Using drip irrigation and scientific orchard management, Divekar cut water use sharply while improving productivity. His orchard now generates a turnover of about Rs 6 lakh per acre, more than double what sugarcane earned him, with significantly lower input costs. 

Early harvesting and strong market demand further improve margins. Divekar’s strategy shows how climate-appropriate fruit crops can outperform traditional cash crops.

2. Appa Karamkar: Organic drumstick farming brings Rs8 lakh per acre

Appa Karamkar, also a teacher, shifted from sugarcane to organic moringa (drumstick) cultivation to escape high costs and delayed payments. Drumstick trees require significantly less water, start yielding quickly, and allow for multiple harvests per year. 

By adopting organic farming practices, spacing techniques, and direct market access, Karamkar earns around Rs 8 lakh per acre in turnover, with very high net profits due to low input costs. 

The crop’s steady demand ensures year-round income instead of a single annual payout. His success highlights the power of choosing low-risk, fast-yielding crops.

3. Prakash Udagati: Drumstick farming raises income to Rs 6.5 lakh per acre

In Karnataka’s sugarcane belt, Prakash Udagati replaced water-intensive cane with drumsticks to reduce irrigation dependency. By planting improved moringa varieties and managing harvest cycles efficiently, he achieved high yields while keeping costs low. 

Drumsticks brought him a turnover of around ₹6.5 lakh per acre, far exceeding sugarcane returns. Direct sales in wholesale markets and lower labour requirements further boosted profitability. 

Udagati’s approach proves that switching to resilient vegetable crops can significantly increase per-acre income while conserving water.

4. Sagar Khare: Organic moringa delivers Rs 6 lakh per acre profit

Engineer-turned-farmer Sagar Khare left his corporate job and his family’s sugarcane cultivation to focus on organic moringa farming. Instead of relying only on drumsticks, he diversified revenue streams by selling moringa leaves, leaf powder, seeds, and pods. 

This value-addition strategy helped him earn around Rs 6 lakh per acre in profit over a turnover of Rs 10 lakh. Organic certification, controlled input costs, and multiple harvests ensured steady cash flow throughout the year. His model shows how diversification within a single crop can dramatically improve farm economics.

5. Ram Saran Verma: Diversification multiplies per-acre returns

Padma Shri awardee Ram Saran Verma moved away from sugarcane-led monoculture to a diversified system combining bananas, vegetables, and crop rotation. By adopting high-yield varieties, scientific spacing, and soil management, he achieved exceptional productivity. 

He harvests over 41,000 kg of bananas per acre. His diversified model delivers Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh or more per acre, far exceeding traditional crop returns. More importantly, it reduces risk from mono-cropping and improves soil health. His success underscores that long-term profitability lies in diversification, not dependence on a single crop.

(US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.)

Also Read: IT engineer quits job to turn barren lands into food forests, plants over a lakh trees

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