Uttar Pradesh's Sugar Output Plummets Amid Red Rot Crisis

The sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh, India's top cane-growing state, has been severely impacted by the susceptibility of the widely cultivated sugarcane variety Co-0238 to a devastating fungal disease known as red rot. The production of sugar in the state has plummeted from 126.4 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 89.5 lakh tonnes in 2025-26.

This marked a significant decline over the past seven years.

A new sugarcane variety, Co-20016, has been identified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI) as a potential replacement for Co-0238 due to its remarkable resistance to red rot. The Varietal Identification Committee, under the All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sugarcane, has already given its approval for the new variety.

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The widespread adoption of Co-0238 in 2009 led to a substantial increase in sugar production in Uttar Pradesh. With the variety's share in the state's total cane area rising from negligible to 82.2% in 2019-20.

However, the susceptibility of Co-0238 to red rot has resulted in substantial yield losses, with the state's sugar mills crushing over 50 lakh tonnes of cane in 2020, a decline of over a fifth compared to the previous year.

The red rot fungal disease has had a devastating impact on Uttar Pradesh's sugar industry. The resultant yield losses have also led to a decline in the total quantity of cane crushed by UP's 120-odd sugar mills over the past six years.

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The Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) had launched a joint initiative with the ICAR-SBI in August 2023 to conduct evaluation trials of improved cane varieties at selected factory locations across both subtropical and tropical India. The initiative aims to promote the adoption of new sugarcane varieties that are resistant to red rot and other diseases.

Once approved by the Central Varietal Release Committee. Farmers are expected to plant the new variety in the coming spring, summer, or autumn seasons. This is anticipated to meet in October.

This marked an important milestone in the adoption of Co-20016 by the sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh. The new variety is expected to bring relief to the sugar industry in the state. Helping to mitigate the impact of red rot and other diseases.