Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries, which runs three sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh, has partnered the state farmers for promoting best farm practices in sugarcane cultivation, said a company official.
UP’s sugarcane productivity and recovery rates are low compared to other states. The crushing season is on and the collective sugar production is nearing the four million tonnes mark.
According to the company, the current partnership would help the industry overcome issues like rising cost and low sugar recovery — reasons acting as catalysts for the decision by many sugar companies to relocate to other states.
Dalmia recently organised a 15-day road show that reached out to about 100,000 farmers spanning 330 villages in the periphery of its three sugar mills at Ramgarh, Jawaharpur (Sitapur) and Nigohi (Shahjahanpur).
The initiative will help the farmers improve crop yield from 150-200 quintal per acre to 350-450 quintal per acre. This would directly augment farmers’ income up to three times their current earnings.
The company screened short films to educate farmers on new farm techniques and to improve yield and recovery. The road show assisted farmers with knowledge of new plough techniques, judicious use of fertiliser, importance of soil testing, timely cultivation and better crop management through modern technologies.
“Our sugar mills have improved living condition and employment ratio in surrounding villagers,” B B Mehta, Director and CEO of the firm, said.
Besides, the firm runs Kisan Sewa Kendra near its mills to address farmer queries, distribute fertilisers, pesticides, help source seeds and farm equipment at subsidised prices to farmers.
