This research investigates the growth patterns and instability in sugarcane cultivation in India over a span of 72 years, from 1950-51 to 2020-21, utilizing secondary time series data. Descriptive statistics and compound growth rates (CGR) were employed to discern trends in sugarcane cultivation parameters, including area, production, and yield. The mean values for sugarcane cultivation parameters were found to be 3.35 million hectares for area, 204.55 million tonnes for production, and 56,922.75 kg per hectare for yield. Analysis revealed positively skewed distributions for area and production, while yield exhibited a negatively skewed distribution. Moreover, platykurtic curves were observed for all three parameters – area, production, and yield of sugarcane in India. Compound growth rates were computed using exponential functions, with sugarcane area, production, a nd productivity showing growth rates of 1.58%, 2.81%, and 1.22% per annum respectively. The significance of these growth rates was tested using Student’s t-test. Additionally, the instability in sugarcane cultivation parameters was assessed using the Cuddy-Della Valle index.