Origin and History
- Cultivation of sugarcane was started from Vedic period (dating back to 1000-3000 BC) in Nepal.
- The word sugar is derived from the Sanskrit word “Sakkara” or “Sarkara”.
- On the basis of literature mainly there are two centre of origin of sugarcane i.e. India and New Guinea.
- Barber (1931) reported that thin Indian canes probably originated in the moist part of northern India and the tropical cane or noble cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is originated from New Guinea.
- The origin of S. spontaneum is subtropical India. The habitat of these two wild canes is swamps, river banks, water courses etc.
- The noble cane cultivation was started extensively in 19th century only.
Area and Distribution
- Sugarcane is grown over the land surface of earth between latitudes 370N and 370S.
- Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops of the world cultivated over an area of 19.4 million hectares with a total production of 1274.7 million tons of cane.
- In recent years the major global production comes from Brazil (33%), India (23%), China (7%), Thailand (4%) and Pakistan(4%).
- In Nepal, area and the production of sugarcane has been fluctuating from year to year depending upon pricing policy and climatic condition.
Crop Adaptation
- Sugarcane is considered as tropical plant and it can be grown up to 1000masl.
- It is long duration crop and encounters all the season.
- The ideal climate required for sugarcane should have two distinct weather conditions viz.
- A growing season which is long and warm with adequate rainfall or irrigation, long hours of bright sunshine and higher relative humidity which permit rapid growth to build up adequate yield.
- A ripening season of around 2 to 3 months duration having warm days, clear skies, cool nights and relatively dry weather without any rainfall, for build up of sugar.