Stakeholder Workshop Highlights Need for Healthy Sugarcane Seed Production and Sectoral Reforms at ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore

17 March 2026, Coimbatore

ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, in association with the Society for Sugarcane Research and Development (SSRD), organized a stakeholder workshop on “Sugar Industry in South India: Present Challenges and Future Roadmap” at the Institute.

Inaugurating the workshop, Shri Venkata Rao, Director, Sugar & Cane Commissioner, Government of Andhra Pradesh, emphasized that healthy sugarcane seed production is crucial for maximizing cane yields, preventing the spread of diseases, and maintaining genetic purity. He also expressed concern over the decline of the sugarcane sector in Andhra Pradesh and highlighted the need for developing early maturing varieties with high ratooning ability suited to the region.

In his opening remarks, Dr P. Govindaraj, Director, ICAR–SBI and President, SSRD, reflected on the rich legacy of the 114-year-old institute and its significant contributions to the growth of the sugarcane sector. He observed that increasing competition from alternative crops in Tamil Nadu poses challenges, and sustaining farmers’ interest in sugarcane cultivation would require achieving yields exceeding 60 tonnes per acre. He emphasized the need for location-specific technological packages, enhanced mechanization (up to 80% of farm operations), and promotion of technology-driven farming to attract and retain youth in the sector.

Shri R. Varadarajan, President, South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA) and Whole-time Director, Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals Ltd., noted that both farmers and sugar mills in Tamil Nadu are currently facing inadequate returns. He stressed the importance of improving productivity, increasing mechanization, and promoting collective farming approaches to address these challenges.

Shri J. A. Ashiq, Chief Operating Officer, EID Parry (India) Ltd., expressed concern over declining soil health in Tamil Nadu and suggested that ICAR–SBI could support farmers by providing variety-specific soil health recommendations to enhance productivity.

In her special address, Mrs J. Anitha, Vice-Chairperson, SNJ Group of Companies, highlighted key challenges such as water scarcity, labour dependency, and rising production costs. She underscored the potential of AI-driven farming practices in enabling faster and more effective farm-level decision-making, thereby strengthening the sugar industry.

During the programme, sixteen progressive farmers from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra were felicitated for their achievements. Participating farmers emphasized the importance of maintaining soil health through improved soil organic carbon and the use of farm-derived inputs.

The workshop witnessed the participation of over 250 farmers and cane development personnel from across the southern states, facilitating meaningful discussions on strategies to revitalize the sugarcane sector in the region.

(Source: ICAR- Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore)