Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Sudarshan Bhagat has urged the scientists to focus on the technologies that will increase the productivity with less production costs.

Interacting with the scientists, after inaugurating a Pollen Collection Chamber at Sugarcane Breeding Institute here last evening, Bhagat said sugarcane could play a significant role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling the income of Indian farmers, provided improved cane varieties were evolved to tackle new challenges such as climate change and less water availability.

He also inaugurated Sugarcane Planting Operations in the National Hybridization Gardens.

Lauding the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute for its efforts in enhancing the economic status of farmers across the country by evolving high-yielding sugarcane varieties, he urged the scientists to focus on the technologies to increase the productivity with less production costs.

The Institute supports the breeding programmes of over 22 State Sugarcane Research Stations across the country by extending these facilities.

He also visited the experimental fields and witnessed the newly developed “Sugarcane sett treatment device” and “Mechanized sugarcane settling transplanter” in operation.

Bhagat also interacted with the scientists of ICAR institutions such as Regional Centres of ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research and ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering.
The Institute Director, Dr. Bakshi Ram briefed about the major activities and achievements of the institute to the Minister.