The present study initiates and analyzes the growth trends in area, production and productivity of sugarcane crop, measure the variability of sugarcane crop at the district levels in Bihar. The data obtained from secondary sources for the period of 42 years beginning from 1970-71 to 2011-12 and analyze by using simple descriptive statistics, CAGR (compound annual growth rate). Out of 38 districts of Bihar six major sugarcane growing districts have been selected on the basis of percentage area and production of sugarcane. The results of the study revealed that area, production and productivity had shown significantly positive in the third period in the selected districts. However, the growth rate in the areas of sugarcane in Bihar found negative () during the entire period. This might be due to shift in acreages of sugarcane to other valuable cash crops. The study also revealed that coefficient of variation depicted that highest inter-annual fluctuation was observed in production ( per cent) followed by variation in area and productivity per cent and per cent respectively during 1970-2012, and thereby indicating that instability in production of sugarcane crop in the state. | Growth performance and instability analysis of sugarcane cultivation in Bihar: Economic perspectives
