Wonder variety that made farmers richer
Some innovative ideas and policy decisions usher in silent but potential changes in the lives of people and society. In a threepart series, HT explores some of these ideas and decisions that have brought real change in rural areas of UP.
A new variety of sugarcane Co-0238 has become very popular among the farmers of western UP in a very short period of time and has given new dimensions to the rural economy. With more yield and recovery of sugar content, Co-0238 has brought smiles back on the faces of farmers and mill owners.
MEERUT: A new variety of sugarcane Co-0238 has become very popular among the farmers of western UP in a very short period of time and has given new dimensions to the rural economy.
Known as the sugar bowl of the state—the five districts Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Bijnor and Shamli —are leading sugarcane producers in the country and accounts for over 17 percent of India’s ( approx 42 % of UP) production of sugarcane.
With more yield and recovery of sugar content, this variety of sugarcane Co-0238 has brought smiles back on the faces of farmers and mill owners. Dr RS Senger, professor and head of the biotechnology department at Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel Agriculture University said, “The variety has the potential to add a new dimension to the economy of rural area in the region.”
He claimed that sugarcane farmers were opting for this new variety after watching the amazing yield and recovery output.
It has almost doubled the yield in comparison to the previous varieties which means farmers are getting more sugarcane after putting in same amount of labour and expenses. The new variety’s average yield has been recorded at 100 to 110 tonne per hectare in comparison to 60 to 70 tonne of other varieties such as COJ 64 and common variety 767.
The variety was introduced in 2009 and thereafter Agriculture University worked hard on multiplying its seeds in lab and made relentless efforts to convince farmers about it. Sanjay Rastogi, senior general manager of Daurala Sugar Mill said that initially farmers were reluctant of using this new variety but situation had changed in past three years after analyzing its suitability for farming and bumper production.
Rastogi said the hard covering on the sugarcane protect it from attack of the wild animals and at the same time its farming is easier in comparison to previous varieties 64 and 767. Mill owners have also developed liking for it because of its high recovery of sugar substance.
Rastogi claimed that actual recovery of sugar in this variety was between 10.5 kg and 11.5 kg from one quintal sugarcane even after 2 per cent loss during the process which was not more than 9 Kg earlier.
He claimed that 90 per cent farmers of the region had adopted this variety which had helped them to multiply their income. State government has declared Rs 325 per quintal as minimum support price for this year for early variety and Rs 315 per quintal for common variety.
Sohanveer Singh, a sugarcane farmer of village Marakpur said, “I was scared of using the new variety for two years but after seeing its bumper yield this year, I have also opted for this new variety.”
Dharmendra a farmer in Chabaria village said, “With this variety we hope better payments too.” The new variety has increased average yield in the region which is expected to go high in coming years with expansion of the new variety in more areas. Last year Shamli topped the list of average yield with 843 quintal per hectare production followed by Muzaffarnagar and Meerut with 832 and 829 quintal per hectare respectively.
Interestingly, UP alone accounts for 42.47 percent of total area and 41.31 % of the total production of sugarcane in the country.