Hoping sugar production bounces backin Maharashtra and Karnataka: AtulChaturvedi, Shree Renuka Sugars
Atul Chaturvedi of Shree Renuka Sugars noted that red rot disease in sugarcane has been present in Uttar Pradesh for three years, affecting small areas in central UP, especially flood-prone regions. He emphasized that it’s not a major concern as farmers have learned to manage it by changing sugarcane varieties. Despite the issue, Maharashtra and Karnataka are expected to see a production rebound due to good rainfall.
“As far as UP is concerned, we do not have too much of investment in UP except perhaps one mill. But in Maharashtra and Karnataka, this is not an issue. As far as Maharashtra and Karnataka is concerned, we have reasonably good rains and we are hoping that this year the production could actually bounce back in Maharashtra and both in Karnataka,” says Atul Chaturvedi, Shree Renuka Sugars.
Let us get in a sense from you as to what exactly this red rot disease in sugarcane is. Can you explain? Is there any solution for it? Atul Chaturvedi: Red rot has been around in UP for almost three years now.
And it is confined to small little areas in central UP. So, I do not think it is something which is a cause of big worry. Largely it happens in the flood prone areas. So, in fact, the disease is carried by water, that is what I understand. And this year also in some small pockets, this has been noticed. But I was talking to my friends in UP, it is not something on which we need to worry too much because farmers in the last three-four years have learned to live with it and to control it. And one of the basic methods of controlling is to keep changing the variety of the cane which is planted. So, I do not think it is something which is a big cause of worry as of now.
