PAU, Sugarfed collaborate for sugarcane research
The meeting witnessed the convergence of key stakeholders, including PAU vice chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal, university officers and subject specialists, who engaged in discussions on advancing sugarcane research and development in the state
In a bid to enhance sugarcane research and development in the state, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organised a visit of industry experts.
Managing director of Sugarfed Punjab Arvind Pal Singh Sandhu (IAS), along with association’s general manager cum cane advisor Kanwaljit Singh and Batala Cooperative Sugar Mills Limited general manager Arvinder Pal Singh Kairon visited the university.
The meeting witnessed the convergence of key stakeholders, including PAU vice chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal, university officers and subject specialists, who engaged in discussions on advancing sugarcane research and development in the state.
During the meeting, Sandhu laid an emphasis on the need to introduce high-sucrose and high-yielding sugarcane varieties that would benefit both the industry and farmers alike. Additionally, he shed light on the untapped potential of sugarcane waste, particularly in ethanol production,having the potential to reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.
PAU Vice chancellor SS Gosal focused on the potential of tissue culture or micropropagation for rapid and disease-free seed production, preserving the genetic fidelity of promising varieties and accelerating breeding and propagation. He further highlighted the importance of evaluating sugar content for staling losses in sugarcane juice, considering the location-specific varieties for commercial cultivation and exploring blends, flavors and variations in sugar content for market acceptability. Gosal further recommended considering tetra packaging for better shelf life and distribution alongside bottling, as well as exploring organic farming practices and biofertilizer production from sugarcane waste.
Director of research Ajmer Singh Dhatt foregrounds the significance of using recommended varieties for sugarcane planting, stressing that the university’s recommendations are based on extensive research and rigorous trials, cautioning against cultivating unrecommended varieties vulnerable to harmful pathogens. Dhatt encouraged cooperative sugar mills to collaborate in the crop’s research and development programs, highlighting the mutual benefits for farmers and sugar mills.
Throughout the meeting, the visitors actively engaged with PAU representatives, inquiring about drip irrigation specifications, costs and subsidies as well as seeking details on biocontrol agent mechanisms, micropropagation and sugarcane product packaging.
Sugarfed Punjab, the apex body overseeing the operations of nine cooperative sugar mills, plays a crucial role in supporting farmers with services such as disease-free seed distribution, pest control measures and ensuring timely purchase and payment for their sugarcane produce. Presently, approximately 1.80 lakh farming families are associated with the state’s sugar mills, highlighting the significance of the industry in the region.
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