National Seminar on “Mechanization in Sugarcane Agriculture: Challenges and Solutions” was organized at IISR, Lucknow

28^th March, 2023, Lucknow

The National Seminar on “Mechanization in Sugarcane Agriculture: Challenges and Solutions” was organized jointly by Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), New Delhi and ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research at IISR, Lucknow.

The chief guest of the program Prof. Vijay Paul Sharma, Chairman, CACP, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India highlighted two options for increasing farmers’ income viz., increasing sugarcane production and sugar recovery by adopting improved production technology and reducing its production cost. Prof. Sharma urged the Scientists to provide a complete package of mechanization of all agricultural activities from field preparation to sugarcane harvesting to the farmers and their promotion through cooperatives/FPOs and stressed on increasing the income of sugarcane farmers by setting up Farm Machinery Banks.

Sh. Subodh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary (Sugar), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Govt. of India said that sugar production in India has been increasing continuously for the last 5-6 years and India is also exporting sugar for the last few years. Sh. Singh expressed the need for mechanization in sugarcane farming to increase the income of sugarcane farmers and sugar industry.

Shri Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy, Addl. Chief Secretary, Sugar Industry and Sugarcane Development, Govt. of U.P. discussed the significant progress made in the area, production and productivity of sugarcane, sugar production and sugar recovery in Uttar Pradesh. He also highlighted the need of modifying the present policy of prevailing parchi system to cluster harvesting. Discussing the cyclical nature of sugar production prevailing in India,

Dr. R. Viswanathan, Director, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow highlighted various farm machinery developed by the Institute for planting, weeding, earthing-up, spraying of pesticides, harvesting and ratoon management for the mechanization of sugarcane cultivation.

Mr. Aditya Jhunjhunwala, President, ISMA and Sh. R.L. Tamak, Chairman, Sugarcane and Sugar Sub-Committee, ISMA presented the current status and challenges of mechanization of sugarcane in agriculture.

Dr. A.K. Singh, Principal Scientist & Organizing Secretary of the National Seminar gave detailed information on various sugarcane machines developed by the Institute.

 Shri S. Mohanty, DG, ISMA proposed the vote of thanks in the inaugural session.

About 300 delegates from different parts of the country including various office bearers of the ISMA, officials of sugar mills, leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and sugarcane scientists have participated in the seminar.

(Source: ICAR- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow)