A Separate Sugarcane Research Team to be Formed within ICAR to Tackle Red Rot: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
02 October 2025, New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has announced the creation of a dedicated team within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to focus exclusively on sugarcane research. The team will also contribute to shaping sugarcane policy in India. The announcement came during a national discussion on the sugarcane economy, organized by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in association with ICAR.
Highlighting challenges in the sector, Chouhan noted that while sugarcane variety 238 has shown promising sugar content, it remains highly vulnerable to red rot disease. He stressed that India must work on developing alternative varieties and finding ways to control emerging diseases, which often accompany the introduction of new crops.
The Minister also raised concerns about the long-term risks of monocropping, which not only depletes soil nutrients but also limits nitrogen fixation. He called for careful evaluation of intercropping systems to balance productivity with sustainability.
Chouhan emphasized the need for greater efficiency in production, mechanization, and sugar recovery, while also reducing costs and water usage. Referring to the government’s “per drop, more crop” principle, he said strategies must be developed to cut down water requirements in sugarcane cultivation. However, he acknowledged the heavy financial burden on farmers in adopting drip irrigation systems.
On the issue of farm income, Chouhan underlined the importance of bioproducts. While ethanol and molasses have established markets, he said farmers need new value-added products to enhance profitability. Natural farming, he suggested, could also reduce fertilizer dependency.
The Minister candidly admitted that farmers’ grievances about delayed payments from sugar mills are justified. While mills face financial stress, farmers remain at the receiving end, which calls for better mechanisms to ensure timely payments. He further highlighted the labor shortage in agriculture and suggested that training, capacity building, and mechanization innovations could make sugarcane harvesting less labor-intensive.
“I urge ICAR to form a separate team for sugarcane research, focusing on practical challenges. Research must benefit both farmers and the industry—research without impact on farmers is meaningless,” Chouhan said.
Adding to the discussion, ICAR Director General and DARE Secretary Dr. M.L. Jat identified four key research areas: setting clear priorities, addressing developmental challenges, resolving industry-related issues, and recommending supportive policy measures.
Dr. Jat pointed out that sugarcane is highly resource-intensive, requiring significant water and fertilizer. He said that micro-irrigation systems, such as those adopted in Maharashtra, show promise for reducing water usage, while improving fertilizer efficiency is critical for future sustainability. He also stressed diversification, suggesting that integrating pulses and oilseeds with sugarcane could increase incomes and reduce risks associated with monocropping.
Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadav, Deputy Director General of Crop Science at ICAR, explained that although variety 238 was initially welcomed by farmers, it led to widespread monocropping. He clarified that new varieties require at least three years of testing for disease and yield performance before release. Identifying yield gaps, he said, remains vital for most crops.
Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General of Extension at ICAR, chaired one of the seminar’s technical sessions, which consolidated key recommendations from the event.
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