Visit of Sugar Factories

                                                                                                             Professor R. S. Sengar

During the visit of some sugar factories in Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lakimpur and Hardoi area, it was surprising to see that even in the traditional sugarcane belts, now the farmers are looking for diversified cropping patterns and one can see maize cultivation being taken up.

Farmers are also looking for their better economics and certain issues with sugarcane have compelled them to think for switching over to other crops. Diminished productivity, unremunerative sugarcane prices or better economics of other crops, increased cost of production of sugar (particularly harvesting and transport costs) and want of newer & promising sugarcane varieties appears to be the reason.

Subtropical region of the country desperately needs high sugared and high yielding varieties. Now we need sugarcane to meet our requirement for sweetener as well as for bio-energy.

Writer: Professor R. S. Sengar, Director Training and Placement, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut.