Jalandhar: In a move to boost sugarcane production as well as income of farmers in Punjab, the state government is emphasizing to increase about 40% area under one type of variety ahead of sugarcane sowing next month.
The Punjab government is planning to increase the area under new varieties including COPB 95, COPB 96, COPB 98, and CO118 etc. along with keeping 30 to 40 per cent area under CO20238 variety in the next three years.
The move is being seen to replace some varieties of seed, which are being sown for years by farmers but now leading to certain types of diseases in the crop.
According to government’s data, there is about 95,000 hectares (2,34,650 acres) area under the cane crop and 70% area is under just one variety (CO0238) of the sugarcane crop, which was introduced in 2015 in Punjab.
Experts state that CO0238 variety played a crucial role in boosting the income of farmers by producing a bumper yield along with better quality in previous years. However, in recent years, this variety has become quite prone to different diseases along with ‘Pokka Boeing’ disease attack.
“Pokka Boeing disease attacks on the shoots of cane when the crop is already 7-8 feet. It generally affects sugarcane during rainy season and spray of medicine is not possible, which leads to losses to farmers,” said Joginder Singh, a farmer.
With these new varieties, which are mostly early maturing varieties, even the cane crushing season can be advanced by one month against the traditional timing of late November.
In Punjab, cane is planted in two seasons including autumn and spring season and it is planted once in the four years as in first-year new seed is planted and then next two years ratoon crop is used and then in the fourth year the new seed is planted.
Ratoon crop or stubble crop is the part of cane left underground after harvesting and it gives rise to new crops as opposed to the plant crop. In Punjab, sugar harvesting starts after November 20 and it goes till March as early, mid and late varieties are crushed in these months.
Dr Gurvinder Singh Cane Commissioner said that CO0238 would be covered in 30 to 40% area while other varieties will also be sown on 25 to 30% each for the sustainability of sugarcane cultivation in the state.
Government plans sugarcane diversification to improve crop quality in Punjab
