National consultation on sugarcane exposes contrast between science, farm realities

The National Consultation on the Sustainable Sugarcane Economy, organised by the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), held at AP Shinde Hall, National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi, brought out a sharp contrast between scientific priorities and farmers’ immediate concerns.

While researchers and industry leaders emphasised varietal seed development, crop diversification and mechanisation, farmers from major sugarcane producing states highlighted delays in payments from sugar mills, insufficient compensation and the banning of certain sugarcane seed varieties by mills.

Dr P Govindaraj, Director of the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, outlined how sugarcane breeding began in Coimbatore in 1912 and had since produced more than 200 varieties, including CO-0238 in the north and CO-8632 in the south.

“Problems like red rot, top borer and Pokkah boeng (a serious sugarcane disease) have increased the cost of cultivation,” he said, noting that new varieties such as CO-118, CO-15023 and CO-17018 are being developed to replace those under stress.

Industry representatives stressed the need to simplify and accelerate the release of new varieties. Roshan Lal Tamak, Group Executive Director, DCM Shriram Ltd, said, “There are two fundamental things if agriculture has to be sustained — one is ease of growing and the other is fiscal health. Agriculture has to be made easier and the income from agriculture has to be increased.”

He added that the variety release process must not only be transparent and rigorous but also faster, suggesting tissue culture for seed multiplication and small harvesters to address labour shortages.

Dr Dinesh Singh, Director of the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, said the All India Coordinated Research Project linked 49 centres to develop varieties and improve crop management. “If we invest one rupee, we can get two to two-and-a-half rupees back when the crop is cultivated with potato or garlic,” he said, underlining the role of intercropping in raising incomes.

On the sidelines, farmers voiced concerns that differed from research agendas. “The new seeds they give us are banned by the mills,” said Vikas Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar.

Another farmer, Yogendra Malik, added, “We don’t get payments on time. My dues from the mill have been pending for two years.” Farmers also said cane prices remained inadequate. “We are paid Rs 390, the actual rate is Rs 480, but what we need is Rs 550,” one farmer said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who also attended the consultation called for a farmer-focused approach in sugarcane farming.

Union Agri Minister announces dedicated team for research

Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that a separate team would be formed under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to focus exclusively on sugarcane research and policy.

Addressing a national consultation session on the sugarcane economy held at ICAR’s Pusa campus in New Delhi, Chouhan said the team would examine practical challenges faced by farmers and the industry and ensure that research was aligned with their requirements.

The event was organised by ‘Rural Voice,’ a digital media platform, primarily focused on agriculture and rural sectors, in collaboration with the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories.

Chouhan noted that while the 0238-variety showed good sugar content, many others were affected by red rot disease. He said the sector must address how long a variety remained viable and simultaneously develop alternatives. “New varieties bring new diseases. The key question is how to counter them,” he said.

The minister pointed to the risks of monocropping, which he said invited diseases, reduced soil nitrogen fixation and depleted nutrients. He suggested that the viability of intercropping with other crops should be examined. Other issues highlighted included the need to raise productivity, mechanisation, lowering production costs and improving sugar recovery.

On water use, Chouhan said efficiency must be improved with approaches such as “per drop, more crop,” but acknowledged the challenge of farmers meeting the costs of drip irrigation systems. He also asked the ICAR to examine how bio-products and natural farming could help reduce fertilizer dependency.