Іugarcane crops in Bangladesh have halved in the last 10 years

Sugarcane cultivation in the Rajshahi agricultural region has declined by almost 52% over the past decade, raising concerns about the long-term future of the crop in one of Bangladesh’s key sugar-producing regions.

The region, which includes the districts of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj, has traditionally contributed significantly to sugarcane production. However, official data shows a steady decline in the area under sugarcane in the region.

According to the Agricultural Extension Department, sugarcane was grown on 40,867 hectares of land in the 2016/17 financial year. By 2025/26, this area had shrunk to 19,340 hectares.

While yields have remained relatively stable, overall production has declined in line with the decline in the area under cultivation. In 2016/17, the region produced over 18 million tonnes of sugarcane, but production has fallen to around 11.1 million tonnes in the current financial year.

Farmers blame low profitability, rising input costs and delayed payments from sugar mills for the decline. Ahad Ali, a farmer in the Pab sub-district of Rajshahi, said growers often have to wait months for payment. He said that with the rising cost of fertilisers and labour, sugarcane cultivation has become less financially attractive.

Tags: sugar, Bangladesh