Initiatives for Sustainable Sugarcane Farming in Punjab

By : Rupinder Pal Singh, Onkar Singh, Vikrant Tyagi, Gulzar S Sanghera

Page No: 137-152

Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex) is an important sugar crop of subtropical region (NWZ zone) comprising states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan of the country. In Punjab, it is the second most important industrial crop after Cotton, being cultivated on an area of 95 thousand hectares that caters the need of 16 (9 cooperative and 7 private) sugar mills running in the state. Sugarcane scientists and technocrats of the state associated in the improvement of sugarcane crop through various conventional and non-conventional approaches encounter problems of narrow genetic base of crop, complex genome, poor fertility, genetic recombination as well as long breeding selection cycle. During 2015-16 crop season, the concerted efforts of sugarcane scientists, sugar mills and farmers on various researchable aspects has led to harvest cane productivity of 750 quintals per hectare and recorded sugar recovery of 10.07 percent in the state. To sustain the sugar industry of Punjab, it is very important to advise sugarcane grower for the choice of the varieties and their planning based on different maturity groups, planting season and type of crop (plant/ratoon). At present, nine high yielding, good quality and red rot tolerant sugarcane varieties; 4 in early maturity group (CoPb 92, Co 118, CoJ 85 and CoJ 64) and 5 in mid-late group (CoPb 93, CoPb 94, Co 238, CoPb 91 and CoJ 88) have been recommended for commercial cultivation, of these three new varieties viz,, CoPb 92 (early) and CoPb 93 & CoPb 94 (mid-late) are found promising for cane yield, commercial cane sugar (CCS) and showing encouraging results among farmers and sugar mills. Since, sugarcane is the raw material for the sugar industry, its juice is used for the manufacturing of gur, shaker, sugar and cane tops are used as fodder while the byproducts of the sugar industry include bagasse, molasses, filter-cake, wax etc. The percentage of sucrose varies from 12-18% depending of the variety of cane, its maturity, condition of soil, climate and agricultural practices followed by the growers. In order to sustain cane crushing in mills, planting of varieties in early: mid-late (3:2), early (Autumn: Spring: Ratoon :: 1:1:1) and mid-late (Plant: Ratoon :: 1:1) ratios have been advocated. Besides, recent technological interventions like FIRB (furrow irrigated raised bed), sub-soiling (1mx1m), crop geometry (120mx30m paired row trench planting), single bud chip nursery raising and intercrops (wheat, cabbage, garlic, sarson, onion etc.) have resulted in enhancement of per unit area productivity of sugarcane. In addition, recommendation for management of borer complex (especially early shoot and top borer) with Coragen and Ferterra agro-chemicals have paid dividends to growers and industry in terms of cane production and sugar recovery. Therefore, execution of aforesaid planning and interventions through extension activities in mill command areas are advocated to sustain sugarcane agriculture for the benefits of growers and industry in the state.

Authors :
Gulzar S Sanghera, Rupinder Pal Singh, Onkar Singhand Vikrant Tyagi : Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Kapurthala, 144601, Punjab, India