Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the southern states of India? Discuss with justification. (UPSC 2013)

The South once attracted sugar mills due to longer crushing seasons, higher sucrose content and better recovery rates. However, saying that new mills are now rapidly opening there is misleading. In recent years, expansion has slowed because of water stress, competition for land and inadequate cane availability in many peninsular areas.

Southern states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have faced droughts and reduced cane supply, while some mills have even closed. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh has revived through improved varieties like Co-0238 and better yields. Thus, the statement is only partly correct; the trend is now more balanced than southward expansion.