Vikas Sonawane, Director of Operations (COO) in Netafim India PVT LTD
A series of factors, including the lack of adequate irrigation and nutrient management, has led to stagnation in sugarcane productivity in the country, said Vikas Sonawane, director of Operations (COO) in Netafim India PVT LTD.
“Continuous and consistent irrigation, together with the application of balanced nutrients through the culture cycle, has a direct impact yield. Business line In an interaction by email.
Since the water supply is inappropriate the growth period, productivity decreases significantly. In addition, climate change has intended challenges. “The increase in temperatures, unpredictable monsoons, extreme climatic events such as heat waves and sudden cold spells have affected the health recovery and sugar recovery rates. The quality of the cane has also deteriorated the recovery of led sugar.”
On the other hand, he said that sugarcane, an intensive water crop, is excessive by farmers who believe that more water leads to greater yields. However, excessive irrigation through conventional flood or surface methods cannot improve productivity, but also degrades soil health. “Approximately time, flooding and salinity make alkaline and unproductive soil, which leads to a loss of long -term fertility,” said Netafim’s COO.
First time in 8 seasons
This season until September, sugar production is expected to decrease to 258 LAKH Tons, by 19.1 percent decrease in the previous season. This is the first time in eight seasons that production has fallen below consumption.
He said that other factors that contribute to stagnation and decrease in sugarcane productivity include farmers’ failure to select adequate varieties that are high performance and inadequate prediction of the earth, the lack of integrated management
The salinity of the soil is an important problem in the regions with poor drainage, while the timeing (which allows the return of the cane of the same roots) leads to the exhaustion of soil nutrients. The limited use of precision agricultural techniques, soil tests and mechanization is braking productivity, said Netafim’s COO.
Change
His views on sugarcane occurred after his company organized a two -day conference on integrated sugarcane management through drip fertilization and automation in Pune in February. Sonawane said a multifaceted approach is essential to address challenges and improve sugarcane productivity.
Improving sugarcane productivity, he said that the adoption of high performance varieties can be one of the forms.
By stating that drip irrigation is a change of play, which offers precise water and nutrient supply that improves performance without damaging the ground, said the government is considering mandatory due to drip irrigation for sugarcane. “… But large -scale implementation requires policy support and investment in infrastructure … The government must intervene to develop the necessary infrastructure, ensuring that the water reaches the farms efficiently. Farmers can join and Pootse filters, including filters, including the use of filters,” said Sonawane.
Reinforcing irrigation
Beyond sugarcane, water conservation through drip irrigation can transform Maharashtra agricultural landscape. Each hectare of low irrigation sugar cane saves 50 percent of the water that can be used to water four hectares of vegetables, ten hectares or horticultural crops, or even expand agroforestry initiatives, said NetaFim’s COO.
“The expansion of drip irrigation will not only increase the productivity of sugarcane, but will also increase the general irrigation area, which makes Maharashtra agriculture more resistant and economically viable, he said.
On how the ethanol mandate of 20 percent (E-20) will transform the sugar industry, Sonawane said the game for the Indian sugar industry changes. It will result to increase the demand and ensure a stable income flow for sugar factories. It will reduce dependence on crude oil imports, strengthening energy security.
Strengthen the biofuel economy
It will provide flexibility in sugar and ethanol production, similar to Brazil in Brazil, sugar factories change between sugar production and ethanol and stabilize sugar prices, preventing excess supply from being released in the market.
In particular, it will boost Maharashtra’s sugar industry. Since ethanol is a cleaner cut fuel, it reduces carbon emissions and promotes the efficient use of sugarcane, supporting the climate and renewable energy objectives of India.
It will also strengthen the economy of biofuels with the government incentrating the production of ethanol through subsidies and soft loans. By 2025, India points to self -sufficient biofuels, reducing fossil fuel dependence, said Netafim’s COO.
Posted on April 17, 2025
