Pune: With the advancement in technology, and abundance of sugarcane production, experts during Sugar Conclave in Pune pressed for mechanised sugarcane harvesting. They believe it is a need of an hour.
Sanjay Khatal, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation, Ltd. while sharing the presentation emphasised on mechanization. He was speaking at a sugar conclave organized by Vasantdada Sugar Institute at Manjri, Pune.
Addressing the gathering, he said, “We are witnessing a rise in sugarcane cultivation and also facing a shortage of cane harvesters to cut the crop grown in the fields. We have to start using mechanized harvesters to if we want to complete the crushing season in time.”
Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar, President of the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Limited, also echoed the same suggestion. Interacting with media, he said, “Manpower shortage for sugarcane cutting is going to rise. Along with harvesters, we also need robots. In the last 5-6 years there is a deficiency of sugarcane cutters. We have to depend on mechanisation and hence research in robots for sugarcane cutting and harvesters is valuable.”
