A dedicated Sugarcane Research & Development Institute at Kalanaur (Gurdaspur) would be a game changer in not only providing training to the farmers in latest techniques of Sugarcane Cultivation but also develop pure seed of elite sugarcane varieties having higher per acre yield & sugar recovery thus resulting in augmenting the income of farmers and sugar mills.This was disclosed by the Cooperation, Punjab Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa while chairing a meeting of the Governing Council of the Punjab Sugarcane Research & Development Institute, Kalanaur (District Gurdaspur) was here today. The minister said that the promotion of sugarcane cultivation is the need of hour to bring crop diversification in a true spirit.Pointing out further, S. Randhawa stated that the institute, already accorded approval by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, would also promote Research & Development activities in the field of sugarcane cultivation which will in turn prove to be a boost for agriculture diversification, besides leading to sugar mills getting more and better quality sugarcane.
The Minister also informed that he had got DNA Test of the variety CO-0238 being sown by the farmers in Gurdaspur, Batala & Ajnala areas, conducted from SBI, Coimbatore last year so as to confirm its purity. After receipt of the DNA reports, it has been confirmed that the seed of this variety being used by the farmers is not pure and is of mixed varities which is major reason for non-performance of this variety in the State, revealed Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.Meanwhile, The Governing Council unanimously authorized the Minister to appoint Director of the Institute. The Governing Council also decided that two eminent progressive sugarcane farmers of the State may also be nominated to the Governing Council in addition to an Agricultural Expert.The meeting was attended by Special Chief Secretary (Cooperation), Kalpana Mittal Barua, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Anirudh Tiwari, Registrar Cooperative Societies Vikas Garg, Vice Chancellor Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana B.S. Dhillon, Director General, Vasant Dada Sugar Institute, Pune Shivaji Rao Deshmukh, Managing Director (Sugarfed) Puneet Goyal, Additional Secretary (Finance) S.K. Waraich and Cane Commissioner Punjab Gurwinder Singh, Chief Cane Advisor of National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Dr. RC Doule (Delhi), GM, Cooperative Sugal Mill Ajnala cum Director Shivrajpal Singh and GM (HQ) Sugarfed Kanwaljit Singh.