Integration of sugarcane production technologies for enhanced cane and sugar productivity targeting to increase farmers' income: strategies and prospects.

The idea of doubling the farmers' income in next 5 years has been slated by the Government of India. The specific target of increasing sugarcane farmers' income could be achieved by developing cost-effective technologies, transferring them from laboratory to land, educating the farmers and creating a linkage between all stakeholders. Consistent efforts shall be required to harness all possible sources for increasing farmer's income in and outside the agriculture sector with respect to improvement in sugarcane and sugar productivity, enhancement in resource use efficiency and adopting various other ways and means including intercropping, management of pests and diseases, use of biotechnological tools and minimizing post-harvest deterioration. The advances in sugarcane biotechnology could become remarkable in the coming years, both in terms of improving productivity as well as increasing the value and utility of this crop substantially. In future, genetically modified sugarcane varieties with increased resistance to different biotic and abiotic stresses would serve more towards sugarcane crop improvement. Any possibility of enhancement in the income of sugarcane farmers shall also be dependent upon the profitability and sustainability of the sugar industry. Integration of sugarcane production technologies for improvement in farm productivity, diversified sugarcane production system, reduced cost of cultivation along with increased processing plant efficiency and diversification to produce value added products shall ensure smooth and higher payment to the farmers. Development of low-cost technologies to convert "waste to resource" on a smaller scale shall also help the farmers to increase their income further. This paper focuses on possible measures to be taken up in each aspects of sugarcane cultivation including biotechnological approaches to achieve the goal of enhancing the income of sugarcane farmers substantially, particularly in the sub-tropical region of India.