Patna: It is a proud moment for the people of Bihar, as India’s first and the world’s fifth International Sugarcane Research Center is set to open in the Samastipur district. The announcement was made during the Bihar state budget, and the detailed project report has already been submitted to the Sugarcane Industry Department by the Sugarcane Research Centre at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, reports Prabhat Khabar.
According to officials, the upcoming research center will also receive the status of a ‘Centre of Excellence’. It will offer sugarcane farmers access to modern technology, high-quality seeds, and the latest research developments. The first official meeting on the project has already taken place at the departmental level. Authorities say the center will benefit not just farmers in Bihar, but sugarcane growers across the country. It is expected to conduct global-standard research and attract farmers from around the world for training.
At present, only four other countries host similar international sugarcane research centers: SASRI in South Africa, the Guangxi Sugar Industry Research Institute in China, the Kibaha Sugar Research Institute in Tanzania, and the Sugarcane Research Institute in Ishurdi, Bangladesh. Once operational, the Pusa-based center in Samastipur will become the fifth such institute globally.
