Adopt scientific techniques, farmers told

SURAT, NOV 28: Sugarcane growers of South Gujarat will have to fast adopt scientific techniques of farming to check the rapid fall in cro...

SURAT, NOV 28: Sugarcane growers of South Gujarat will have to fast adopt scientific techniques of farming to check the rapid fall in crop yield, speakers at a seminar on sugarcane production said on Sunday. They said the per hectare yield of sugarcane, although higher than the national average, was falling steadily over the past few years.

The day-long seminar on 8220;Problems in sugarcane production and their solutions8221; was organised by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry SGCCI at Samruddhi. Besides speakers from the agricultural university and others closely connected with the field, a large number of sugarcane growers from the district and region attended the seminar.

Sugarcane farming and crushing, the speakers felt, will soon reach a level of stagnation, although sugarcane farming and crushing had gone up in the region rapidly over the past five decades. Sugarcane farming in South Gujarat was first taken up in 1956 and the first factory set up soon. Production at the time was a mere 430 hectares. At present there are more than 14 sugar factories in the region and production has increased manifold.

While the national average of sugarcane yield is 69 tonnes per hectare, the corresponding figure for South Gujarat is 71 tonnes per hectare, said Dr D G Vala, director of campus of the Gujarat Agriculture University, Navsari. He was invited as the chief guest for the seminar.

Dr Vala said although India was a predominantly agricultural country, planners are ignoring the sugarcane sector. 8220;I see no other way than to adopt scientific methods of farming to ensure better yield and a stable economy,8221; the agricultural scientist added.

Earlier, SGCCI president Amarnath Dora said the chamber held the interests of agriculture and industry equally and added that SGCCI will provide all assistance, including representing the sugarcane growers8217; problems to the State Government.

A research paper submitted by professors of the Gujarat Agricultural University identified a few major problems which are responsible for the decreasing yield. Among these, rise in the level of water table, diseases triggered by planting a single variety of crop for long periods and use of traditional farming methods were discussed at the seminar.

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Among others who spoke on different aspects of sugarcane production at the seminar were Dr M N Lad of the water management project of the agriculture university, while Dr Mishra of Kribhco spoke on the fertiliser aspect. S S Mali highlighted the different varieties that can be grown and the various diseases that affect the crop.

KC-671, a sugarcane variety, is the most popular among farmers of South Gujarat and almost 80-90 per cent farmers use the crop for its high yield of sugar. However, continuously planting of this variety has given rise two diseases 8212; raatda8217; and sukara8217; 8212; which has reduced production. The agricultural university is at present researching on ways to tackle these diseases, scientists at the seminar said.