Chandigarh: Farmers in the command area of Cooperative Sugar Mill, Nakodar, were encouraged to adopt modern sugarcane cultivation practices, recommended varieties and intercropping to improve productivity and farm income.
An awareness camp was organised at Mehrajwala village by the Sugarcane Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jalandhar, under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The programme was held following directions from Punjab Cane Commissioner Dr Amrik Singh.
Officials used the camp to explain improved cultivation methods, pest and disease management, intercropping techniques and government schemes available to sugarcane farmers.
Focus on Modern Sugarcane Farming
The awareness programme focused on helping farmers improve sugarcane production through better technology and quality planting material.
Officials highlighted the importance of adopting recommended cultivation practices to increase productivity while also improving the economic returns from farming.
The initiative also aims to support:
- Improved sugarcane production
- Better soil health
- Higher farm incomes
- Efficient use of agricultural land
- Nutritional security
By promoting modern practices at the field level, the department is seeking to encourage farmers to move towards more productive and sustainable sugarcane cultivation.
Read Also: Punjab Revises Building Rules, Eases Commercial Norms and Tightens Safety
Demonstration Plots to Promote Intercropping
Project Officer, Jalandhar, Dr Rulda Singh said the Punjab government was establishing demonstration plots during the autumn sugarcane sowing season.
These plots will help farmers understand how intercropping can be adopted in sugarcane fields and how it can contribute to additional farm earnings.
Intercropping allows farmers to grow suitable crops alongside sugarcane, helping them make better use of available farmland during the crop cycle. The demonstration approach is intended to give farmers practical exposure to the technique rather than relying only on classroom or awareness-based guidance.
Wider Spacing and Soil Testing Advised
Assistant Sugarcane Development Officer, Jalandhar, Dr Gurcharan Singh advised farmers to maintain wider spacing between sugarcane plants and adopt intercropping to improve productivity per hectare.
Farmers were also advised to test their soil before applying fertilisers and to maintain a balanced fertilisation schedule.
Soil testing can help farmers understand the nutrient requirements of their fields and avoid unnecessary or imbalanced fertiliser use. Officials stressed that appropriate soil and nutrient management is an important part of improving crop performance.
Recommended Varieties and Quality Planting Material
Mandeep Singh Brar, Chief Cane Development Officer of Cooperative Sugar Mill, Nakodar, urged farmers to cultivate recommended sugarcane varieties.
The emphasis on suitable varieties and quality planting material is part of the broader effort to improve production through better agricultural technology.
Officials also discussed pest and disease management with farmers, highlighting the need for timely and appropriate measures to protect sugarcane crops.
Push to Expand Sugarcane Cultivation
The General Manager of Cooperative Sugar Mill, Nakodar, Gurvinder Singh, called upon farmers to increase the area under sugarcane cultivation.
The awareness camp brought together agriculture officials and representatives of the cooperative sugar mill to directly engage with farmers in the sugarcane-growing region.
The initiative comes at an important stage of the crop cycle, with demonstration plots and autumn sowing providing an opportunity to introduce improved cultivation practices directly in farmers’ fields.
Supporting Farm Income Through Better Practices
The Punjab government’s focus on demonstration plots, modern cultivation techniques and recommended varieties is aimed at helping sugarcane farmers improve returns from their land.
For farmers in the command area of Cooperative Sugar Mill, Nakodar, adopting practices such as wider spacing, intercropping, soil testing and balanced fertiliser application could help improve productivity while supporting better resource management.
The awareness drive also highlights the role of extension services in taking agricultural technology and government schemes closer to farmers.
With greater emphasis on improved planting material, scientific crop management and intercropping, the initiative seeks to strengthen sugarcane cultivation while supporting the broader goal of improving farm incomes in Punjab.
Read Also: Punjab Power Output Dips Despite 117% Coal Stock at PSPCL Plants, Centre Says Supply Isn’t the Issue
