Success in Experimental Sugarcane Cultivation in five Northern Districts

 Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute has started experimental cultivation of sugarcane in Char areas of 5 districts of the northern region. The company has also been very successful in this. Researchers say that it is possible to meet the annual demand of sugar and powder through the cultivation of sugarcane in the grazing areas of the country. However, the corporation advises the farmers to cultivate sugarcane along with intercropping.

Although the amount of arable land in the country is decreasing, the grazing area is increasing. These lands have huge potential for sugarcane cultivation. Already, special projects have been undertaken in 5 districts of Rangpur division for this purpose.

The demand of sugar in the country is about 1.5 million tons every year. But the production is only one lakh tons. Researchers said that it is possible to meet the annual demand of sugar or molasses by cultivating sugarcane in pastures of any region of the country.

BSRI Training and Technology Transfer Division Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Samjit Kumar Pal said, 'We have achieved success by cultivating sugarcane in the grasslands of Greater Rangpur.'

Meanwhile, as it is an annual crop, many farmers are interested in producing short-term crops instead of sugarcane. It reduces the production of sugarcane. Therefore, to reduce the cost of production, the farmers are advised to do crops together.

Acting Chairman of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industry Corporation. Delwar Hossain said, 'Onion or garlic can be cultivated with sugarcane. If farmers keep companion crops with sugarcane as per our plan, they are getting two crops at once.'

At the same time, the researchers asked to bring sugarcane farmers under training.

Experts believe that it is possible to bring back the lost past of this industry if the farmers can be made more efficient in using advanced technology besides increasing the price of sugarcane.