Sugar Industry – Mandya (Karnataka)

Syllabus: Industries (UPSC Prelims)

Mandya is one of Karnataka’s most prominent sugarcane regions and a key centre of the state’s sugar industry. It holds historical importance as the site of the Mysore Sugar Company Ltd. (MYSUGAR), the first sugar factory in Karnataka, established in 1933 under the patronage of Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV. The district remains a major producer of sugarcane and a hub for both sugar mills and jaggery-making units, illustrating the agro-industrial strength of southern Karnataka.

Key points for UPSC on Mandya’s sugar industry

Historical significance

• MYSUGAR, established in 1933 in Mandya town, is a landmark in Karnataka’s sugar sector.
• The factory was founded under Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV.

Geographical and agricultural context

• Mandya is among Karnataka’s leading sugarcane-producing districts.
• Other important sugarcane districts include Belgaum, Mysore, and Tumkur.
• The region benefits from irrigation through canals and borewells, supporting multiple cropping cycles and high-yielding cane varieties.

Industrial landscape

• The district hosts several sugar mills and a widespread network of jaggery-making units.
• Its agro-industrial ecosystem makes Mandya a representative case of sugar production in a major sugarcane-producing state.