Mysore/Mysuru: A two-day 22nd Sugarcane Research and Development Workshop of Southern Karnataka began yesterday at the B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences in the city. Over 240 delegates, including researchers, R&D staff from sugar factories across South Karnataka, scientists, and scholars, are attending the workshop.

The event is being held in association with the ICAR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore; the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru; the Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraih Sugarcane Research Institute, Mandya; and Coromandel Sugars Ltd., Makavalli, K.R. Pet.

The event aims to showcase sugarcane research and developmental activities being carried out in the Southern region of Karnataka. R&D workshops are highly beneficial and play an important role in catalysing the improvement of sugarcane and sugar productivity in the region.

This workshop provides an opportunity for sugarcane R&D personnel and other related scientists to interact and exchange their views on the field problems faced by the industry and sugarcane farmers, as well as the remedies to overcome these challenges.

The speakers of the event include V.J. Ravi, Senior Vice President, Coromandel Sugars Ltd., Dr. G. Hemaprabha, Director, ICAR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore, Shivakumar, Principal Scientist, SBI, C.B. Patil, Director, S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute, Belagavi and Dr. Vishakanta, Director of SBI.

In his address, Ravi opined that, there is a desperate need to increase sugarcane production in a non-labour-intensive and sustainable way. Research needs to be done in this direction and this workshop has been organised to promote R&D activities.

The guests released a compendium of research articles and status papers. The highlights of the workshop include managing drought and measures to improve irrigation water usage more efficiently and sustainably, interventions for enhancing sugarcane yields and sugar recovery in Southern Karnataka.

It will review various mechanisation initiatives in the region including mechanical harvesting, varietal positions in sugar factories, and the performance of new sugarcane varieties and varietal trials.

The event also hosts an exhibition showcasing farm equipment and machinery, tissue culture and biotechnology advancements, agrochemicals, biofertilisers, drip irrigation and micro-irrigation systems and water-purifying technology equipment.