ETHANOL PRODUCTION AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR INDUSTRIES IN SOLAPUR DISTRICT: A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Ethanol production and the sugar industry together play a transformative role in India’s agro-based economy. Sugar factories, traditionally engaged in processing sugarcane into sugar, have diversified into ethanol production by using sugarcane juice and molasses, thereby contributing to renewable energy under India’s Ethanol Blending Programme. This dual role strengthens rural economies by ensuring farmer income, generating employment, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In this context, Solapur district of Maharashtra has emerged as a leading center of sugar and ethanol production despite its semi-arid climate and irregular rainfall. The present study, based on both primary data from field visits and secondary sources such as the Pradeshik Sakhar Sahsanchalak Karyalaya and the District Socio-Economic Abstract (2023–24), analyzes the temporal growth of ethanol production between 2018–19 and 2022–23 and examines the spatial distribution of sugar industries in 2023–24. The results show that ethanol production increased from 930 KLPD in 2018–19 to 1140 KLPD in 2022–23, with recovery rates improving from 10.2% to 10.5%. High production years coincided with good monsoons and strong cooperative and private sector participation, while 2019–20 recorded the lowest production (660 KLPD, 8.28% recovery) due to drought. Spatially, the district’s 38 sugar factories are unevenly distributed: Karmala, Malshiras, and Pandharpur (5 each) form high-concentration zones supported by canal irrigation and fertile black soils, whereas drought-prone Akkalkot and Sangola lag behind with only one unit each. The study concludes that Solapur’s sugar and ethanol industries are vital drivers of agro-industrial growth, renewable energy generation, and rural development. However, the uneven geographical distribution reflects the dominance of irrigation facilities, soil fertility, and cooperative strength, pointing to the need for policy interventions to balance industrial growth across drought-prone tehsils.