Yara India Empowers Sugarcane Farmers in Sangli with Balanced Crop Nutrition Solutions

National, August 20, 2025: Yara India, a subsidiary of Yara International and the world’s leading crop nutrition company, has been instrumental in improving sugarcane productivity and soil health in Sangli, Maharashtra, through its farmer-centric interventions. Among the success stories is that of Mr. Rohit Rakate from Bavachi village, who has been cultivating sugarcane for nearly a decade on his 3-acre farm.

For years, farmers in Sangli have struggled with challenges such as declining soil health, high chloride levels, uneven tillering, and limited cane size, leading to lower yields of 50–55 MT/acre. Traditional fertiliser practices also raised input costs without delivering commensurate results. Recognizing these hurdles, Yara introduced its science-led crop nutrition solutions to address yield gaps while improving long-term soil sustainability.

Mr. Rakate adopted YaraMila Complex and YaraLiva Nitrabor as part of his basal fertilisation program, applying them three times during the crop cycle. The results were transformational. He reported uniform tillering, stronger vegetative growth, and an immediate 10–15% increase in yield in the very first year, something he had not achieved before despite higher fertiliser use in the past. Importantly, these solutions provided balanced nutrition at a lower overall cost, ensuring that every nutrient applied was fully absorbed by the crop.

The impact extended to crop quality as well. Sugar recovery improved, cane weight increased, and yields surged to 70 MT/acre, compared to the earlier 55 MT/acre. Soil health also showed visible improvement, with better structure and reduced chloride impact, laying the foundation for sustainable farming in the years ahead.

“YaraMila Complex is highly water-soluble and ensures that the crop absorbs all applied nutrients. Balanced crop nutrition not only saves input costs but also maximizes productivity. That’s why I recommend fellow farmers to use solutions that deliver both immediate and long-term benefits,” said Mr. Rakate.

Inspired by these results, several farmers in Bavachi and nearby villages have already shown interest in adopting Yara’s nutrition practices. The successful outcomes demonstrate how science-backed crop nutrition can improve profitability, strengthen soil resilience, and promote climate-smart agriculture in one of India’s most important sugarcane belts.

About Yara

Yara's mission is to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. We pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth through reducing emissions from crop nutrition production and developing low-emission energy solutions. Yara's ambition is focused on growing a nature-positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain.

To drive the green shift in fertilizer production, shipping, and other energy intensive industries, Yara will produce ammonia with significantly lower emissions. We provide digital tools for precision farming and work closely with partners at all levels of the food value chain to share knowledge and promote more efficient and sustainable solutions.

Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry's only global crop nutrition company. With 17,000 employees and operations in more than 60 countries, sustainability is an integral part of our business model. In 2024, Yara reported revenues of USD 13.9 billion.