Here, farmers arein Bharuch’s Valia taluka reaping sugar cane yield of 100 MT per acre

Surat: Sugar cane farmers in Bharuch’s Valia taluka have managed to increase yield in their farms up to 114 metric tonne per acre. Sanjeev Mane, a Krishibhushan Award recipient from Maharashtra Government, is providing expert guidance to about 80 farmers on increasing sugar cane yield up to 100 metric tonne per acre in association with Ganesh Khand Udhyog Sahkari Mandli Limited.
The project was started by Ganesh Khand Udhyog Sahkari Mandli Limited on 150 acre fields located in various villages of Valia taluka in 2017-18 under the guidance of Sanjeev Mane. About 100 farmers had joined the project. A majority of farms have yielded over 70 metric tonne and some 12 between 100 metric tonne to 114 metric tonne of sugar cane.

Ganesh Khand Udhyog Sahkari Mandali Limited chairman Sandeepsinh Mangrola told TOI, “After the success of the pilot project, we have decided to extend it to another 5,000 acres of land. The yearly requirement of the mill of sugar cane is about 7 lakh metric tonne. With increase in sugar cane yield, we will be able to process more cane from next season.”

Mangrola added, “We had approached Sanjeev Mane and he readily agreed to provide expert guidance to our farmers. Soil testing of all the farms was done and fertilizers, quantity of water and crop medicines were suggested. The farmers followed a checklist and the results were amazing.”

According to Mangrola, the average yield of sugar cane per acre in Gujarat is 27 metric tonne, while the national average is 21 metric tonne. Valia has become the first taluka where farmers in a pilot project are producing sugar cane between 80 MT to 100 MT per acre.

Kiransinh Chavada, a farmer from Borkhadi Netrang in Valia taluka, said, “Earlier, I used to get an average of 25 MT per acre in my 30 acre farm. After joining the project last year, I crossed 80 metric tonne of sugar cane yield in the first season. The project implemented by our sugar mill will go a long way in increasing the cane yield in the farms.”

Sanjeev Mane told TOI, “I have been growing sugar cane in my 3.5 hectare farm for the last 32 years and achieving 100 MT per acre. I had visited Israel and Egypt to study their agriculture pattern as well as drip irrigation. I am happy with the progress of 100 MT target in Valia taluka and hope more farmers join the project in near future.”