In the face of evolving agricultural challenges and the pressing need for sustainability, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd. (TEIL) has embarked on a transformative journey to reshape the landscape of sugarcane cultivation. Historically using the high-yielding Co-0238 sugarcane variety, TEIL is now making a decisive pivot to diversify its crop base—a move that not only strengthens its business resilience but also aligns with India’s broader agricultural priorities.
The Co-0238 variety has long been the backbone of India’s sugar industry, prized for its exceptional sugar content and robust yield. However, changing climatic conditions and increased vulnerability to diseases such as red rot has exposed the limitations of depending too heavily on a single cultivar. Recognizing the potential risks, TEIL has set a clear target to reduce the proportion of Co-0238 in its sugarcane crush from 50-55% in Sugar Season (SS) 2024-25 to 30-35% by SS 2025-26. This strategic realignment marks a critical step towards ensuring long-term sustainability, enhancing sugar recovery rates, and improving farmer incomes.
Aligning with the Government Initiatives for Agricultural Diversification
This strategic move by TEIL is not just a business decision, but it reflects the Company’s alignment with national priorities. The Union Budget 2025-26 has reinforced the importance of agricultural resilience through initiatives like the National Mission on High Yielding Seeds, which emphasizes the development and promotion of climate-resilient, pest-resistant, and high-yielding crop varieties. These efforts aim to safeguard India’s agrarian economy from the increasing unpredictability of climate change and pest outbreaks.
By proactively reducing its dependence on Co-0238, TEIL is positioning itself as a key player in India’s agricultural transformation. The Company is rolling out a robust varietal substitution program, introducing more resilient and high-yielding varieties. These new varieties are selected for their strong adaptability to diverse climatic conditions and superior resistance to common diseases, ensuring better yields and safeguarding farmer livelihoods.
Implementing a Robust Varietal Substitution Program
TEIL has proven record of creating tangible results with varietal diversification. In SS 2023-24, a year marked by weather and disease-related challenges, TEIL’s Ramkola unit demonstrated remarkable resilience by proactively replacing the vulnerable Co-0238 variety with CoP9301 during the spring planting season. As red rot disease spread during SS 2023-24, Ramkola’s foresight paid off—it remained virtually unaffected and became the only unit at TEIL to register an increase in both sugarcane crush and sugar recovery over the previous season. Building on this success, similar varietal substitutions are now being implemented across other units.
Collaborative Efforts and Farmer Engagement: The Backbone of TEIL’s Strategy
At the heart of TEIL’s strategic shift is a deep-rooted commitment to its extensive network of over 350,000 farmers. The Company’s sugarcane development programme plays a pivotal role in facilitating this transition by providing farmers with access to high-quality seeds, affordable agricultural inputs, and knowledge sharing.
By empowering farmers through education, resources, and support, TEIL fosters a symbiotic ecosystem where both the Company and the farming community thrive. This farmer-first approach not only enhances yields but also secures long-term economic sustainability for sugarcane growers.
Overall, Triveni Engineering’s strategic shift is a testament to its forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainability. By proactively reducing dependency on the Co-0238 variety and championing agricultural diversification, the Company is not just mitigating risks—it is setting a benchmark for the entire sugar industry.
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