Punjab to introduce Brazil model of mechanised sowing and harvesting of sugercane

Punjab is all set to go for mechanization of sowing and harvesting process of sugarcane crop, keeping in view the cost effectiveness of mechanization besides seasonal shortage of labour during peak seasons.

This was indicated by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is part of Indian delegation to Brazil that is led by Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar. Mr. Badal said that Punjab's farmers would have to adopt automated technology to keep the cost of agricultural inputs in the lower bracket, besides endeavoring for efficient new technology.

The Deputy Chief Minister along with Ministers from other States today visited the farmers and their fields in rural Brazil in the state of Sao Paulo. The delegation on the second day to their visit to Brazil, had on the spot assessment of the sugar cane production technology. Badal evinced great interest in the actual display of the fully mechanized sowing techniques where a highly mechanical planter completes the entire process, of furrow opening, placement of seed, application of fungicide and coverage of the seed with earth, in a single pass. He was informed that machine can plant upto 10 acres in a day without involving any manual labour. The Deputy Chief Minister also watched the display of single row mechanical harvester’ this can harvest clean, cut and load the cane into trucks for transportation to the sugar mill. Mr. Badal was told that this machine can harvest upto 25 acres of sugar cane in a day.

Badal along with the delegation also visited Eqipav Sugar Mill near the city of Lins in Sao Paulo state of Brazil. The delegation was also informed that mill has a crushing capacity of 30,000 tons per day. Mr. Badal saw the complete process of crushing sugarcane to production of sugar and ethanol. The Deputy Chief Minister said that this basic idea of his visit was to understand the technological intervention in the field of cultivation of sugarcane and production of sugar and ethanol in Brazil that could be replicated in Punjab.

The Deputy Chief Minister observed that this exchange of technology in the field of agriculture particularly sugar and its processing and cogeneration can help the farmers of Punjab in a big way. He said that this would not only help in rejuvenating and improving the economic viability of the sugar industry in the state but will also contribute in improving the returns to the cane growers.

The delegation led by Sharad Pawar Union Agricultural Minister also had a meeting with Wagner Rossi, Agriculture Minister of Brazil. In the meeting, the issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture particularly exchange and adaption of sugarcane varieties and their management, development of ethanol and cogeneration were discussed. The ministers deliberated the issues relating to industrial processing of sugarcane and regulation of production and use of ethanol. The facilitation of direct investment in agriculture in Brazil by Indian farmers and entrepreneurs was also discussed.

Interestingly India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil. The sugar produced by India is completely utilized at home whereas Brazil is the largest exporter of sugar and is the largest producer of ethanol in the world. In Brazil it is mandatory to blend gasoline(petrol) with 25% ethanol.

Sukhbir Singh Badal was impressed by flexifuel cars which can run on 100% ethanol or 100% gasoline. He was informed that Brazil has reduced its fuel bill by marketing 100% ethanol on 92.7% of its gas stations. This has been possible in Brazil due to abundant availability of land suitable for sugarcane growing and adequate rainfall. As there is shortage of labour in Brazil they have highly mechanized the cultivation of sugarcane and atomized its processing into sugar and ethanol. The average of sugarcane per hectare is higher than India and is about 80tons.

source: punjabnewsline