Ludhiana, April 4, 2014: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) - Sugar Industry Interface was organised on the campus today. S. Ranjit Singh, Cane Commissioner, Punjab; representatives from Sugarfed, Punjab; Chief Cane Development Officers of Cooperative Sugar Mills of the state; senior officials of the University and scientists working on sugarcane participated. The meet aimed at strengthening linkages with sugar mills for research and extension activities, and addressing the challenges ahead.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said that more area should be brought under sugarcane cultivation by adopting autumn planting, popularising intercropping, and restoring crushing schedule for maximizing sugar recovery of mills. Seed cane production programme of CoPb 91, a new sugarcane variety released by PAU, was also reviewed. Dr Dhillon emphasized that seed should be multiplied through space planting and use of tissue culture techniques. He stressed that the scientists and the mill staff should have more intensive interactions with progressive farmers of the state.
Ranjit Singh said that one meeting with PAU scientists should be held before autumn and spring planting seasons. He desired that experiments on different spacing for mechanical harvesting should be conducted at PAU.
Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries and the participants, Dr S.S. Gosal, Director of Research, said that the major objective of this meet is to promote sugar industry in Punjab and maintain close liaison with the sugar mills for the development of successful quality seed cane programmes. He elaborated that experiments on different spacing are being conducted at PAU Regional Research Stations, Kapurthala and Faridkot. Dr Gosal informed that PAU has initiated a research on drip irrigation in sugarcane. He emphasised that disease free rapid seed production of new varieties through tissue culture should be promoted to cover more area in a shorter time.
Presenting sugarcane scenario of Punjab, Dr K.S. Thind, Director, Regional Research Station, Kapurthala highlighted the new recommendations made by PAU and outlined a programme for seed multiplication of CoPb 91. He pointed out gaps in technology adoption such as non-adoption of crop rotations, non-treatment of cane seed, lower seed rate than recommended, and neglected ratoons. He emphasized on promoting value addition in sugarcane as the PAU has developed a technology for bottling of sugarcane juice and production of sugarcane vinegar. This technology is available for farmers and entrepreneurs, he added.
Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Director of Extension Education, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Director, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Dr R. K. Gumber, Additional Director Research (Crop Improvement), Dr Ashok Kumar, Additional Director Research (Food Science, Nutrition and Engineering), Dr P.S. Chahal, Associate Director of Research and Dr Amarjit Kaur, Head, Food Science and Technology also participated in the deliberations.