Satellite map shows sugar acreage up 3%

PUNE: A satellite mapping of sugarcane acreage carried out for the first time across India shows an increase of 3% over the government estimate. The data shows acreage to be the same in Uttar Pradesh and higher by 3% in Maharashtra as compared to the figures projected by the ministry of agriculture for the two states.

The satellite-based survey has been jointly carried out by Indian Sugar Mills Association and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories to reduce the deficiencies involved in the manual estimation of acreage. The Union government has provisioned satellite crop surveys under its ‘ Fasal’ (forecasting of agriculture outputs through satellite, agrometeorology and land-based observations) programme.

According to the satellite data, acreage for 2011-12 has been estimated at 51.82 lakh hectare. This is higher than the estimates made manually by the sugar industry at 50.79 lakh hectare, by the ministry of agriculture at 50.93 lakh hectare and the ministry of food and public distribution at 50.25 lakh hectare.

The area estimated for the 2011-12 season through satellite mapping at 51.82 lakh hectare is 2.38 lakh hectare higher than the actual area of 49.44 lakh hectare last year. This is an increase of 4.8%. Acreage is projected to be about 22.52 lakh hectare and 9.92 lakh hectare in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively by the ministry of agriculture.