Saharanpur: The Sugarcane Department is actively replacing the CO-0238 sugarcane variety, which is highly susceptible to red rot disease, with new and improved varieties. This initiative aims to enhance productivity and reduce cultivation costs, reported Amar Ujala.
During the spring planting season, the department will focus on cultivating 19,577 hectares with new varieties. A total of 2,010 quintals of seeds have been allocated from research centers, and an additional 19 lakh quintals of improved seeds have been reserved within the district.
CO-0238, known for its high yield, previously covered over 90% of the sugarcane area in the district. However, the increasing incidence of red rot disease has led to a decline in production and increased costs due to the use of pesticides.
To address this challenge, the department is promoting alternative varieties such as Co-13235, CoLK-14201, and CO-15023, which are resistant to red rot and offer higher yields.
Sushil Kumar, the District Sugarcane Officer, stated that due to the escalating prevalence of red rot disease in the CO-0238 sugar variety in the district, efforts are underway to replace it with newer and more resilient varieties.
