TN Govt includes sugar beet to new agri package

The Tamil Nadu government has included sugar beet along with sweet sorghum and jatropha in the new programme targetting water efficient crops to help farmers earn better income.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa said in a press statement that the shorter crop cycle of sugar beet will be fully exploited to improve rural prosperity.

"Sugar beet is a crop which can be raised in five to six months as against 12 to 13 months for sugar cane. With a yield level of 40 tonnes per acre it beats sugarcane with an yield of 25-30 tonnes," she said.

The chief minister has also indicated that sugar beet is capable of fetching a net income of Rs 12,000 per acre in six months time.

"Two crops of sugar beet or one crop of sugar beet followed by another of sweet sorghum can result in a net income of Rs 22,000 per acre annually. Tropical sugar beet is thus a real winner," she said.

Sugar beet, according to the release, also has 1.5 times more sugar content than sugarcane. Sugar beet can lead to a production of four to six tonnes of sugar from an acre as against two to four tonnes per acre from sugarcane.

The need for moderate management and low susceptibility to pests assures better stability for farmers in terms of crop success. Further, being a round-the-year crop, sugar beet can also keep sugar mills running throughout the year.

The Tamil Nadu government will provide comprehensive package of support for the programme tagetting water efficient crops.

Among the several incentives offered, the government plans to promote special schemes of drip and sprinkler irrigation in designated areas. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will be the nodal agency for the technology support.

The government has also waived purchase tax on sweet sorghum, sugar beet, and jatropha. Sales tax on ethanol made from sugar beet and sweet sorghum will be eight per cent. Further, sales tax on bio-diesel from jatropha seeds will be four percent.