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University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad is planning to set up a ‘Jaggery Park' with a budget of Rs 15 crore at Mudhol and efforts are being made to popularising organic sugarcane cultivation and proper water management.
Addressing a state-level workshop on ‘Recent Advances in Sugarcane Production Technologies for Sugarcane Growers' at Dharwad, Dr R.R. Hanchinal, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad said: “The productivity of sugarcane is decreasing at an alarming rate, hence there is an urgent need to adopt organic farming, proper water management, correct usage of fertilisers and suitable plant protection measures.”
For sustainable productivity, he advised farmers to take up crop rotation at least once in three years.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kurubur Shantakumar, President, State Sugarcane Growers Association said, improper fertiliser application and non-adoption of newer technologies are the main causes for decreased sugarcane productivity.
“The latest technologies and high yielding varieties developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences both Dharwad and Bangalore should be transferred to the farming community and such workshops should be organised in every district,” he added.
Worldwide fame
Dr P.M. Salimath, Director of Research, UAS, Dharwad, said that the technologies developed by the university have reached across the country and gained fame worldwide. The present productivity of 93 tonnes a hectare can be increased substantially by adoption of scientific production technology. The farmers should select good variety, good seed material, apply proper dosage of fertilisers and micro nutrients and manage water for better yields.
Further efforts are on to strengthen sugarcane research at Kallolli and Hukkeri, he added.
Dr L. Krishna Naik, Director of Extension, UAS, Dharwad, in his presidential remarks opined that the network between sugar factories, sugarcane growers and the agricultural universities should be linked in a public-private partnership mode.
He also said that initiative has been taken up to introduce IVR (Interactive Voice Response) in the University to facilitate the farmer to increase his profits. Farmers without spending much can get information at their doorstep.
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