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SETTING UP OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE It is desirable that each sugar factory or a group of sugar factories should set up a R&D centre with a research farm of at least 25 hectares to test new technologies relating to varieties and agro-techniques along with soil testing, biological control of insect pests and tissue culture laboratories. The requirements of this R&D centre are given below: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FARM This farm should be used for: · Testing and selection of suitable high sugar, disease resistant varieties for the region/factory. · Production of moist hot air treated disease free seed of different varieties. · Developing agro-techniques for high cane yield. · Study of efficient water use technologies like sprinkler, drip or trickle irrigation. · Integrated nutrient management studies consisting of organic manures like compost, farm yard manure (FYM), Pressmud, Vermicompost, Biofertilizers, Crop residues and inorganic fertilizers and improving fertilizer use efficiency on soil test basis. · Introduction and evaluation of high sugar varieties and mechanization of sugarcane cultivation from Australia, United States of America (Louisiana) and South Africa, having similar climatic conditions. · Mechanization of Sugarcane cultivation, based on indigenous technology. · Studies on chemical ripeners to improve sugar recovery, particularly in tropical regions of the country. · Establishing linkage with Sugarcane Institutes at the National and International level.* · Transfer of technology to the farmers’ fields. · Integrated insect pest management. · Integrated disease management. * LINKAGE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUGARCANE RESEARCH INSTITUTES LINKAGE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUGARCANE RESEARCH INSTITUTES Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow Sugarcane Research Station, Shahjahanpur Punjab Agricultural University Sugarcane Research Wing, Ludhiana Vasant Dada Sugar Institute, Pune Bureau of Sugarcane Experiment Stations, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Louisiana State University, United States of America. Sugarcane Experimental Station, Natal, South Africa LABORATORIES COMPONENT The centre should have the following laboratories: 1. Soil Testing Laboratory: In order to develop balanced fertilizer use and integrated nutrient management schedules, the soil testing laboratory should be set up. Soil samples should be collected from sugar factory area and analyzed for N, P, K and micronutrients. On the basis of soil analysis, fertilizer recommendation should be made to the cane growers to obtain higher cane yield and sugar recovery. In due course, detailed soil survey can also be carried out and soil fertility maps prepared. 2. Cane Quality Lab.: In this lab. Studies should be made on cane quality of varieties grown in different zones with a view to improve sugar recovery. The effect of various agronomic practices, insect pests and diseases on cane quality should also be studied. 3. Tissue Culture Lab.: The new technology of tissue culture should be used for micropropagation of new promising, high sugar, disease resistant varieties quickly and increasing lifespan of outstanding varieties under cultivation. About 10 Lakh plantlets should be prepared in this laboratory every year. 4. Bio Control Lab.: A Biological Control laboratory should be established at the centre to rear parasites for the control of insect pests, particularly cane borers which are difficult to control with insecticides. Stalk borer in particular causes heavy damage to the cane crop for which no chemical control measures are yet available. This borer can be controlled effectively through Trichogramma parasite. Major thrust in this laboratory therefore should be on bio-control of this and other borers and also control of pyrilla, a leaf sucking insect. 5. Computerization: Computerization of various agro-techniques should be introduced for more efficient use of inputs like water, fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. 6. Remote Sensing: The new technology of remote sensing in agriculture should be introduced for accurate assessment of sugarcane area and yield. This technology could be introduced through Agricultural Universities of the states and National Remote Sensing Centres at Hyderabad and Dehradun. |
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