Bihar's balancing act to raise sugar output

The Bihar government is planning to increase sugarcane cultivation area from 1.5 lakh hectare to 7 lakh hectare by 2009. The state has earmarked the new plan without disturbing the production of crops like wheat, maize and rice.

An intensive irrigation programme with deep and shallow tubewells will be initiated by millers with the help from the government to augment production of sugarcane.

At same time, measures will taken so that production of crops like wheat, maize and rice do not suffer.

"Quality seeds for sugarcane is a primary issue in increasing the area and productivity of sugarcane," said A K Sinha, principal secretary, agriculture production commissioner, Bihar.

"We plan to set up a seedfarm for each new mill in the state. Further, five identified varieties will be planted to test their suitability and accordingly produce seeds," said Sinha. These farms will also depart training and orientation programme for farmers, Sinha added.

On its part, the government will assist the mills to set up tissue culture laboratories along with a plant health clinic for the purpose of farmers.

After the Nitish Kumar government came to power in Bihar, the state received proposals for setting up sugar mills Dhampur Sugar Mills and Rajshree Sugars.

The State Investment Promotion Board approved 15 proposals for sugar mills with an estimated investment of Rs 4,500 crore. Of which, 10 proposals are reported to have been cleared by the state cabinet.

When these mills go on stream, each mill will have the capacity of 10,000 tonne crushed daily (tcd) and will run for 150 days in a year.