“A dedicated Sugarcane Research and Development Institute at Kalanaur (Gurdaspur) would be a game changer in not only providing training to the farmers in latest techniques of sugarcane cultivation but also develop pure seed of elite sugarcane varieties having higher per acre yield and sugar recovery thus resulting in augmenting the income of farmers and sugar mills,” said Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, chairing a meeting of Punjab Sugarcane Research and Development Institute’s governing council on Tuesday.
The Minister said that the promotion of sugarcane cultivation is the need of hour to bring crop diversification in a true spirit.
Pointing out further, Randhawa stated that the Institute, already accorded approval by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, would also promote Research and Development activities in the field of sugarcane cultivation which will in turn prove to be a boost for agriculture diversification, besides leading to sugar mills getting more and better quality sugarcane.
“I have got DNA Test of the variety CO-0238, being sown by the farmers in Gurdaspur, Batala, and Ajnala areas, conducted from SBI, Coimbatore, last year so as to confirm its purity.
After receipt of the DNA reports, it has been confirmed that the seed of this variety being used by the farmers is not pure and is of mixed varieties which is major reason for non-performance of this variety in the State,” said Randhawa.