Patna, Bihar: The Bihar government has announced plans to establish an International Sugarcane Research Centre at Pusa in Samastipur, aiming to boost research on sugarcane varieties, yields, and cultivation methods. Alongside this initiative, a new digital platform and mobile app have been launched to assist sugarcane farmers with expert advice and services.
“We are setting up a world-class sugarcane research institute at Pusa. Work on this has been accelerated,” said Sugarcane Industry Minister Krishna Nandan Paswan. He also inaugurated a new online licensing portal and mobile application developed by the department, designed to provide a range of services to sugarcane farmers.
Paswan said the app will offer vital information on sugarcane farming, including modern cultivation methods. “Farmers will get month-by-month guidance, learn which pesticides to use for different diseases, and see which tools can help reduce expenses,” he explained.
The app will also offer advice on fertilisers based on weather conditions, how to manage irrigation efficiently, handle agricultural waste, and more. According to the minister, the goal is to give farmers access to high-quality seeds and modern equipment to cut down on costs and boost productivity.
Paswan noted that eight of the state’s 15 sugar mills have been shut for a long time. Their assets have now been transferred to the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), and efforts are being made to set up new industries on those sites.
He added that the main focus of the Sugarcane Industry Department is to improve crop yield while reducing production costs. “This is a major step toward helping farmers increase their income,” he said.
In another move to ease the process for farmers and entrepreneurs, the department has made the licensing process for jaggery (gur) units entirely online. Applicants no longer need to visit government offices for paperwork.
