Karnal: Sugarcane farmers in Haryana, along with those in other sugarcane-growing states, will soon benefit from three newly developed varieties of sugarcane, including one early-maturing type. These new varieties have been officially released by the Haryana government, and one of them has also been approved by the Central Variety Release Committee, reported Amar Ujala.
The early-maturing variety is expected to be available for planting between September and October this year. The other two, which are mid-late maturing types, are likely to be ready by the spring planting season in 2026. What sets these new varieties apart is their potential to produce higher yields and greater sugar content compared to current options. This makes them promising choices not just for farmers, but also for sugar mills.
The three varieties—named COH-188, COH-176, and COH-179—have been developed by Dr. Sudhir Sharma, a sugarcane scientist at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) in Hisar. He led the breeding of all three types, with Dr. Vijeta Singh from the university’s Regional Research Center in Karnal contributing as a team member. Efforts are underway to raise awareness among farmers about these varieties, and seed production has already begun.
COH-188, the early-maturing variety, has been designed as an improved alternative to CO-0238, which has long been the preferred choice for many farmers. While CO-0238 produces an average yield of 450 quintals per acre and achieves a sugar content of 18 percent in 10 months, COH-188 can yield between 450 to 500 quintals per acre with a sugar content of 17.5 to 18 percent in just 8 months. Additionally, COH-188 is resistant to red rot, a common and destructive disease in sugarcane, and shows no signs of damage from top borer pests.
With these new varieties, sugarcane production in Haryana is expected to become more efficient and profitable. The improved yield and quality could help boost both farmer incomes and sugar mill operations across the region.
