- These varieties will give 40pc more yield and require 30pc less water to complete the growth cycle
FAISALABAD: Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) has introduced three new varieties of sugarcane which would give 40 per cent more yield as compared to the existing varieties.
This was stated by AARI Director General Dr Abid Mahmood while talking to APP here on Saturday. He said that Pakistan was the 5th largest sugarcane producing country in the world. However, the average yield of the country was far less than its potential.
He said water shortage and climatic changes were posing serious threats to the production of sugarcane, adding that in order to combat these challenges and to enhance the production of sugarcane, the scientists of Sugarcane Research Institute of AARI have evolved three new varieties of sugarcane, including CPF-250, CPF-251 and CPF-253, which would give 40pc more yield and require 30pc less water to complete the growth cycle.
Responding to a question, he said the area under sugarcane cultivation was reducing due to water shortage, marketing issues and encouragement of other cash crops by the government.
“Only in Punjab, the area under sugarcane cultivation has decreased by 27pc in one year,” he lamented, adding that this situation may cause a negative impact on the commodity.
He said that newly-devolved varieties were successfully tested by the scientists of the institute under different agro-ecological zones and were expected to be approved for mass cultivation by the Punjab Seed Council next month.
The reason for the 27 percent decrease in sugarcane crop has nothing to do with water, the only people ti blame for the reduction in the crop are sugar mills not pay farmers in a timely manner, and not paying a faare pruce for the crop. And there will be even less next year.
The reason for the 27 percent decrease in sugarcane crop has nothing to do with water, the only people ti blame for the reduction in the crop are sugar mills not paying farmers in a timely manner, and not paying a fare price for the crop. And there will be even less next year.
Well said shah sb
It is a good singn that new varities developed use 30 pc less water than the old ones because payments to the farmers by the Sugar Mills is a temporary or artificial problem may be due to the bad trade policy, higher sugarcane & then sugar producion cost and monoply of businessmen community etc. However, shortage of water and climatic changes pose serious threats to higher insect pests and diseases infestation on sugarcane crop which in turn increases cost of producion of Sugarcane & then ultimately Sugar than international market. Future, requires more Researh to develop sugarcane varities highly resistant to insect pests and diseases infestation, to develop such producion technology which reduces water use and other inputs to lessen producion cost and last but not the least Government should device a comprehensive Agriculture Policy in which both farmers and people related to Agro-Industry are judicially benefited not only in terms of Sugarcane Crop but other Crops also and our country Pakistan may got the status of “Developed Country”, Inshallah!