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The area under sugarcane cultivation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should be increased and all efforts be made to improve cane yields and recovery, according to N Prabhakar, Vice-President, Nava Bharat Ventures.
Prabhakar, who is in charge of the sugar division of the diversified Nava Bharat Ventures, also called for the modernising of sugar mills in the region.
He was elected President of the South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists' Association at the two-day annual convention of the body here on Saturday.
“The realty boom in some parts of coastal districts triggered by the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh is causing concern, as it may eat into farm lands. Sugarcane and other crops may also suffer,” he said after his election.
The mills should focus on increasing the area under cane cultivation and also mill efficiency. Right from ploughing to sowing, intercultural operation, water and fertiliser use efficiency, the field staff of the sugar mills should ensure constant monitoring, Prabhakar added.
“Though the per acre yield in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is better than that in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana, there is scope for considerable improvement. New technologies and farm-level mechanisation are necessary for achieving better productivity and quality.”
There should be special focus on R&D in all the sugar factories, he added.
There are 527 sugar plants in various parts of India of which 24 are in Andhra Pradesh and 10 in Telangana.
Both States produce one million tonnes of sugar a year, while the national production is 24.5 million tonnes.
Stating that there was huge potential to increase sugarcane cultivation, he said lack of mechanisation, employment guarantee scheme and less suitable agro climatic conditions were affecting the industry to a large extent.
On sugar pricing, Prabhakar said the Rangarajan committee recommendations such as paying 70 per cent of sale price to the farmers should be adopted across the country.
A uniform, rational pricing policy should be formulated, he added.
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