Cane production declines in Haryana

Even though the state government had announced the highest-ever sugarcane prices in November,the farmers seem to prefer other crops over sugarcane.

The state-advised prices for the cane crushing season 2008-09 were announced as Rs 170 per quintal for early maturing varieties,Rs 165 per quintal for mid-maturing varieties and Rs 160 per quintal for late maturing varieties. Major sugarcane growing districts include Ambala,Kurukshetra,Yamunanagar,Karnal,Sonepat,Rohtak and Panipat.

While discussing the current scenario with ENS,C.P. Malik,Additional Cane Commissioner,Haryana,said,“The yield is also expected to decline to 550 quintal/hectare this year as compared to 632 quintal/hectare last year. Due to better returns from paddy-wheat combination as compared to sugarcane,the farmers preferred to switch over to these crops. Now the farmers are also moving on to inter-crop system. Keeping in mind the long maturing period of sugarcane crop,they grow other crops like onion,wheat,gram and garlic along with sugarcane to earn extra income. This year out of the total new seeds sown so far over an area of 15,397 hectares,about 8,865 hectares is under inter-crop method. Labour shortage is another major factor that keeps farmers away from this crop.”

Also,the cost of cultivation of sugarcane has gone up due to abrupt increase in labour wages,rental value of agricultural land and price of inputs. This had also gone against the cultivation of sugarcane as it is a long-duration and labour-intensive crop with little mechanisation of cultural operations. The state agriculture department is making efforts to encourage farmers to grow sugarcane.

“Timely closure of sugar mills has facilitated distribution of seeds and early sowing. We are promoting ring-pit method of cultivation which can double the yield as compared to the traditional methods. Farmers are given assistance up to Rs 5,000 per acre under this scheme and Rs 4,000 per acre under the wide-row spacing method. Training camps are also being organised at village levels to spread awareness about mechanisation as well as better crop management,” said Malik.