'Go for new & improved varieties to sustain cane productivity'

City-based Sugarcane Breeding Institute today urged sugar factory personnel to go for new and improved sugarcane varieties that are superior in yield and sucrose percentage than available varieties.
The ruling sugarcane varieties in India -- Co 86032 for tropical South Indian conditions and CoS 767 and CoSe 92423 for sub-tropical North Indian conditions were released more than 15 years back and need to be replaced with new improved varieties to sustain sugarcane productivity, the institute's Director Bakshi Ram said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a joint seminar, organised by South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists' Association (SISSTA), Chennai and SBI, on 'Multidimensional Approach to Make Sugarcane Cultivation Sustainable'.

Rao said sugarcane productivity that has stagnated for the past one-and-a-half decade can be enhanced only by replacing these varieties with a pool of superior varieties developed by SBI and State Agricultural Universities of the country.
N Prabhakar, SISSTA President said the association has been carrying out significant work in improving the technical performance of south Indian sugar factories in association with SBI to make both farmers and millers happy.
The one-day seminar with over 80 delegates from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is an interactive one with scientists and factory personnel deliberating on various issues to sustain sugarcane cultivation in the region.