Roorkee: The Sugarcane Department has begun distributing seeds of new sugarcane varieties in cash for the ongoing spring sowing season, even as farmers in the area are urging officials to provide the seeds on credit to ease their financial burden, Amar Ujala reported.
Spring sowing in the region started in the last week of February and will continue through March. Despite repeated advisories, a majority of farmers are still planting the older 0238 variety. Farmers say the variety has given low yields this season and is more prone to disease.
Senior Sugarcane Development Inspector Amit Kumar of the Iqbalpur Sugarcane Development Council has appealed to growers to shift to improved varieties such as 12221, 17231, 13235 and 17018. He said these varieties are expected to reduce cultivation costs and increase production.
The department has arranged seeds from Karnal and Kashipur and is supplying them locally. Farmers must deposit an advance of ₹500 per quintal with the sugarcane supervisor to obtain the seeds. The department is bearing the transportation cost.
However, some farmers said providing seeds only against cash payment adds to their expenses during the sowing season. They have requested the department to make the seeds available on credit.
Sugarcane experts have also stressed the need to adopt new varieties to ensure better output and improved returns for farmers.
