Sugarcane, which is the primary source of sugar, khandsari and gur in India, belongs to the bamboo family and is indigenously grown in the country. About two-third of the total sugarcane cultivated is used for making khandsari and gur and the remaining one-third goes to sugarcane mills. It is also used as raw materials for manufacturing local liquors.

The crushed cane residue, also called bagasse, is used for making fuel in mills; however, it is also beneficial for making paper. Bagasse is a competent substitute for petroleum products and an array of other chemical products. A part of the residue is also used for animal food: fodder.

Sugarcane cultivation accounts for the largest value of production in India and holds top position among the other commercial crops in the country. It is a popular choice for cultivation among farmers wherever geographical and climatic condition favor its growth.

Sugarcane is a long-duration crop and may require up to 18 months, depending upon climatic and geographic conditions, to mature. It needs hot and humid climate with average temperature between 21° to 27°Cand rainfall varying from 75 to 150 cm. During the later part of its growth cycle, temperature above 20°C combined with open sky helps the sugarcane crop to acquire juice and thicken its stem. Furthermore, heavy rainfall leads to low sugar content and no rain would mean production of fibrous crops. In areas that receive scanty rainfall, proper irrigation is necessary, and, during the harvest season, cool and dry winter is ideal.

Frost is harmful for sugarcane; therefore, the crop should be harvested before the season when the frost sets in, especially in north India where the frost and cold is very common during the winter season. Additionally, excessive dry and hot winds can be detrimental as well.

Sugarcane can grow is a variety of soils including black cotton soils, loams, brown or reddish loams, clayey loams and even laterites. It can, in fact, tolerate any kind of soil that retains moisture. However, deep rich loamy soil is ideal for it to thrive and grow.

Ideally the soil for sugarcane cultivation should be rich in calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus; however, it should not be either too alkaline or acidic. Sugarcane plant exhausts the soil fertility rapidly and its cultivation requires massive doze of fertilizers and manures. HPM India is one of the largest global suppliers of agrochemical fertilizers in the country and is committed to help farmers with state-of-the-art pesticides and herbicides to ensure hassle free and rapid growth of the crops. Deltamethrin 0.72% +Buprofezin 5.65% EC is a popular anti-pest chemical from HPM India which is liked and appreciated by farmers from across the country.

Depending on the rain, about 6 to 7 watering are required in irrigated regions. While drought, mainly in rainfed areas, at the time of maturity of crop is harmful, cloudiness and light drizzles at the time of ripening of the crop helps in better yield. Additionally, frost during the flowering time and hail storm during the time of ripening can hamper the quality and productivity of the wheat crop.

Sugarcane cultivation requires intense labor and ample human hands at every given stage of its growth and maturity including, sowing, weeding, hoeing, irrigation, harvesting and carry the crop to the mills. Therefore, cheap labor is a prerequisite which is abundantly available in India.