10th May 2023, Coimbatore
A brainstorming session on “Sugarcane scenario: Research and Industry perspective” was held at ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore today.
Delivering the Inaugural address, Dr.T.R.Sharma, DDG (CS), ICAR lauded the scientists of ICAR- SBI for their role in achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production. Sugarcane scientists should focus on developing climate resilient varieties that have high water-use and nutrient-use efficiency, develop appropriate machinery for mechanical harvesting, deploy gene editing and improvise the technologies available for inter-cropping sugarcane with oil seeds & pulses, he said. Dr Sharma exhorted that the recommendations of this brainstorming session should be brought to the notice of the Institute’s Research Advisory Committee for implementation. He also released the Institute’s publications during the occasion.
Dr.R.K.Singh, ADG (CC), ICAR in his Special address, highlighted the importance of adopting PPP approach in agricultural research and trust among the collaborators is essential for this approach to succeed.
Dr. D. K. Yadava, ADG (Seeds), ICAR, in his Special address said that seed production and seed health are the major factors that would help in doubling the income of the farmers. Quality seed material that meets the minimum seed standards and free from all biotic stresses need to be supplied to the sugarcane farmers, he added.
Speaking during the brainstorming session, Dr. M. Manickam, Chairman and Managing Director of Sakthi Sugars Ltd., stressed the need for having long-term policies in the sugar sector. Citing the case of China where farmers are being pressurized to grow only food crops and move away from allied farm enterprises, he said that the recent ethanol policy has been helping the Indian sugarcane farmers.
Dr R.Viswanathan , Director , ICAR- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow spoke on disease management in sugarcane vis-à-vis evolution of pathotypes. Mentioning that seed selection is vital for a healthy sugarcane crop, he highlighted the impact on Yellow Leaf Disease on sugarcane varietal degeneration.
Dr Bakshi Ram, Former Director, ICAR-SBI, highlighted the varietal requirements to meet sugar and energy demands for Atmanirbhar Bharat and listed out the five major varieties dominating the sugarcane scene in the country, Dr Ram urged the scientists to develop techniques to overcome the negative traits of varieties such as the shy-tillering nature of Co 0118, red rot/top borer susceptibility of Co 0238 and water-stress intolerance of Co 86032.
Shri M.Silvester, Vice-President of the South Indian Sugar Mills Association – TN (SISMA-TN) & Whole-time Director of Kothari Sugars spoke on the challenges faced by the sugar industry and on the mechanization options available for sustainable sugarcane agriculture.
Dr G. Hemaprabha, Director, ICAR - SBI said that the average sugarcane production of the country had increased to 84 t/ha mainly because of Co 0238 variety. She also emphasised the role of sugar factory personnel in improving sugarcane production in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Following the interaction, Dr.G.Hemaprabha listed out the recommendations of the brainstorming session, which was discussed at length. Dr. D.Puthira Prathap, PS & In-charge, Extension, served as the rapporteur of the session and conducted the brainstorming proceedings.
Earlier, Dr. Bakshi Ram was felicitated by SISMA-TN, Society for Sugarcane Research & Development, Coimbatore and NAAS-Coimbatore chapter, besides the Institute for receiving the Padma Shri award in the field of Science and Engineering, this year.
(Source: ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore)
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