The Uttar Pradesh state government has announced that the adoption of drip irrigation technology has resulted in a 25 percent increase in sugarcane yield across the state. According to the sugarcane department, drip irrigation systems have been installed on 73,078 hectares of sugarcane land over the past nine years. Farmers utilizing this method have recorded a significant rise in production.
Water and Fertilizer Efficiency
Drip irrigation delivers water drop by drop directly to the plant roots, leading to water savings of up to 50 percent. Additionally, fertilizers are mixed with water and applied directly, reducing wastage. A state government spokesperson stated that this approach lowers input costs for farmers and substantially increases their income.
Expansion in Challenging Areas
The department noted that drip irrigation has enabled sugarcane cultivation even in alkaline and low-rainfall regions. The number of farmers adopting this method has steadily increased as they witness the benefits firsthand.
Ethanol Production Growth
Until 2017, only 37 sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh had ethanol plants with a total capacity of about 880 million liters annually, but actual production was just 420 million liters. Currently, ethanol production capacity across 53 sugar mills has increased to around 2.58 billion liters annually, with actual production reaching approximately 1.37 billion liters.
Innovation and Technology Focus
The state government is continuously emphasizing innovation and technological improvements to boost farmers' income and sugarcane production. On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Uttar Pradesh Council of Sugarcane Research (UPCSR), Shahjahanpur, and Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd, Haidergarh (Barabanki).
Tissue Culture for Quality Seeds
The primary objective of the MoU is to boost the production of quality sugarcane seeds through tissue culture technology. It aims to connect farmers with modern techniques and make the sugarcane production system more efficient. Sugarcane Commissioner Ministhy S stated that training programs will be conducted to promote tissue culture-based seed production. Farmers, mill workers, and technical staff will receive practical training on operating tissue culture labs and greenhouses, preparing plantlets, hardening processes, and field transplantation.
