Coimbatore to host global sugarcane research hub to speed up new varieties
Coimbatore's Indian Sugarcane Breeding Institute is set to become the home of a global Centre of Excellence for Accelerated Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, with an investment of ₹90 crore. The centre aims to develop new sugarcane varieties in eight years, down from the current 14 years, according to officials.
Announcing the initiative on Friday, Harshvardhan Patil, president of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), said the Union government is expected to contribute ₹45 crore, with the remaining amount coming from the sugar industry. The investment will be made over the next four years.
Mr. Patil highlighted the urgency of the project, noting that sugar mills across the country now operate for only about 100 days a year, compared to nearly 200 days earlier. He attributed the decline in sugarcane production to pests, adverse weather, high temperatures, waterlogging, and other factors. “Development of a new variety takes almost 14 years. The Global Centre of Excellence will develop new varieties in eight years,” he said.
The centre will be established through a partnership involving the Union government, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the NFCSF, and the Sugarcane Breeding Institute. An agreement to this effect is expected to be signed soon.
The research focus will be on developing varieties with higher yield and better sugar recovery, as well as enhanced tolerance to drought, flood, salinity, and heat stress. The new varieties are also expected to have improved resistance to major diseases and pests, better ratooning ability, and suitability for sugar, ethanol, bioenergy, and sustainable agriculture.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over sugarcane area contraction in Tamil Nadu. S. Arunraj, Additional Director of the Directorate of Sugar, Tamil Nadu, said sugar production in the state this year is expected to be nearly the same as last year. About 1.31 lakh hectares are currently under sugarcane, and the area is declining. Although Tamil Nadu is the sixth-largest sugar-producing state in the country, it has the highest productivity. However, extreme heat in sugarcane-growing areas has brought sugar recovery to just around 8 per cent.
Mr. Arunraj said the new Coimbatore centre will develop varieties that can deliver higher sugar recovery. He also revealed that a delegation from Tamil Nadu will visit Maharashtra in the coming months to study the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sugarcane farming and explore its introduction in the state. In Maharashtra, about two lakh sugarcane farmers are reportedly benefiting from AI-based advisory and management tools.
Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director of the NFCSF, said a delegation has already visited sugarcane farms and the facilities at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute to assess the groundwork for the centre.
The institute's Director, P. Govindaraj, said the centre will be equipped with trained personnel, world-class infrastructure, and international collaborations to deliver the required sugarcane varieties.
The initiative is seen as a significant step toward revitalising India's sugarcane sector, which is vital to the rural economy and the country's energy security through ethanol blending. Coimbatore, already a hub for sugarcane research, is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring the sector's sustainability in the face of climate and pest challenges.
