India’s Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced plans Tuesday to create a special team inside the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) focused on boosting sugarcane research across the country. This group will also tackle key aspects of the national sugarcane policy.
Chouhan shared the news during a national discussion on the sugarcane economy in New Delhi. The event, hosted by Rural Voice and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in partnership with ICAR, brought together experts to address vital issues in the sector.
The minister highlighted challenges with popular sugarcane variety 238, which offers strong sugar content but falls prey easily to red rot disease. “We need to develop alternatives right away,” he said, stressing that controlling diseases remains a top priority. New varieties often introduce fresh risks, making this work even more urgent.
Chouhan warned about the downsides of mono-cropping sugarcane, which drains soil nutrients and hampers nitrogen fixation. He suggested exploring intercropping options but urged careful studies to ensure they work well.
“We’re tackling these hurdles head-on,” Chouhan told the audience. He called for ramping up sugarcane production through mechanization, cutting costs, and enhancing sugar recovery rates. Water scarcity in farming stands out as a major worry. Drawing on the “per drop, more crop” motto, he pushed for smart strategies to slash water needs. Yet, he added a note of caution: drip irrigation systems, while effective, come with high upfront costs that burden farmers.
The minister also spotlighted the promise of bioproducts from sugarcane. Ethanol and molasses already play big roles, but he wants innovation in new value-added items to lift farmers’ incomes. Plus, he promoted natural farming methods to cut reliance on chemical fertilizers.
On the sugar value chain, Chouhan recognized farmers’ frustrations with late payments from mills. “Farmers’ complaints are valid,” he said. Mills face their own struggles, but delayed payouts hit growers hardest.
With agricultural labor shortages on the rise, Chouhan proposed solutions like worker training programs, skill-building initiatives, and advanced mechanization to ease the tough job of sugarcane harvesting.
ICAR Director General and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Dr. M.L. Jat, outlined four focus areas for future research: setting clear priorities, spotting development roadblocks to fuel progress, solving industry pain points, and suggesting policy moves to strengthen the sugarcane sector.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
