Breeding superior sugarcane varieties

ICRISAT Hyderabad has been compiling and documenting India’s best sugarcane growing and management practices. SSI looks to be a step in that direction. With its resources and reach ICRISAT has done and is taking ahead Sweet Sorghum, another similar crop. SS genes were used in Sugarcane in Japan.

The enhancement in sugarcane production can be achieved by research work in Genetics, Cytogenetics including introduction of Improved Varieties, Inter Specific Hybrids, Newer Planting Techniques, Fertiliser inputs, water application at tiller stage, Weed Control, Ratoon Management, Crop Physiology and Protection.

To develop and propagate a new variety it takes almost 10-14 years in making and in South India farmers are still using some varieties for over 30 years. Success of a Varietal trial depends on confidence of the stakeholders, i.e. industry and farmers.

Two major research institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, namely, the Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore, and the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow, are already engaged in front-line areas of basic and strategic research including breeding superior sugarcane varieties/ genotypes, genetic improvement of sugarcane, improved production technologies, development of appropriate machinery, management of cane under stress, management of ratoons, development of technology for quality seed production, farming system research, and sugarcane post- harvest technology.

Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in Pune is an autonomous body, established by the sugarcane grower members of the co-operative sugar factories in Maharashtra with an active and generous support of the state government; it serves the needs of Maharashtra and adjacent regions. All these three have been serving three regions of Indian sugar industry.

Single bud system has been one among such methods which has been there in the industry and has been successfully tried to certain test projects in the south and among growing regions. In Andhra Pradesh, it has been practiced by Dr Y Kotaiah at Samalkot and this had resulted in a saving of 3.5 tonnes worth of seed cost.

Row Spacing is a mindset and though Industry has been propagating enhanced spacing for sunlight penetration, photosynthesis and ease of navigating sugarcane harvester’s wide acceptance by farmers is yet to happen. Mulching of trash has been successful more in Tamil Nadu than in AP.

Water conservation and clogging are both important aspects of the cultivation of this crop and drip irrigation’s limitation is the size of the farm and cost. Industry has been trying to find ways and means to achieve these.

A collective effort both from sugar managements, farmers on one side, scientific and technology developers on the other, with policy support can conserve, optimise and enhance yields.

source: engineeringnews