Coimbatore: New cane variety developed jointly by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, is in high demand, reports The Hindu.
Cooperative sugar mills across the state have ordered 160 tonnes of cane seeds of this new high-yielding variety Co-1809 (Punnagai) for planting in 2024.
Sugar mills can pay pending cane dues of the farmers due to the ethanol policy and are emphasizing the high-yielding cane varieties. According to media report of the 375 tonnes of cane seeds sold so far, orders have been placed for 140 tonnes of CO 14012 (Avani) variety, and 75 tonnes of CO 11015 (Atulya) by the cooperative sugar mills.
V. Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor, TANU said that the non-flowering ‘punnagai’ variety ensures a yield of up to 160 tonnes per hectare and is preferred by cane farmers.
Farmers’ income has increased as the remunerative prices of ethanol to supplies have doubled in the last six years. Industry experts have stated that an eight-fold jump in procurement in the last six years and the increase in the procurement price by nearly 2.5 times have resulted in increasing the income of farmers.
