All India Seminar on Mechanization of Sugarcane HarvestingOpportunities & Challenges

The Sugar Technologists Association of India (STAI) organized an All India Seminar on Mechanization of Sugarcane Harvesting- Opportunities & Challenges in association with Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) at Lucknow on April 27, 2012. The seminar was inaugurated by Mr. N.C. Bajpai, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Commission, UP. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bajpai appreciated the STAI, IISR and the Sugar industry for initiating discussions on development of sugarcane harvesters suitable for Indian conditions and offered full support in policy development by the GoUP. Dr. GB Singh - DG UPCAR, was Guest of Honor on this occasion. In his address, he emphasized on the need of mechanization of entire process of sugarcane agriculture. Dr. S. Solomon Director: IISR welcomed the delegates and said that harvesting of sugarcane was a very strenuous task and labor intensive operation. He emphasized on the need of developing a harvester suited to harvesting cane with closer inter-row spacing followed in India for small farms. Dr. GSC Rao- President STAI & Chief Executive Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd., said that mechanization of sugarcane harvesting was the only emerging option to address the issues of labor shortage. He focused on the benefits of mechanization and said that by adopting these systems, timely harvesting of sugarcane would be possible that would help in increasing the recovery and cutting down the costs. Bankers perspective in sugarcane farming was put forward by Mr. SC Ahuja - General Manager - Bank of Baroda. Dr. PR Singh, Head Eng., IISR, chaired the first session on Status of Sugarcane Harvesting in India. He focused on the need of developing whole stalk sugarcane harvesters. Mr. JH Kulkarni from Ugar Sugar Works made an in depth presentation on the advantages of mechanized sugarcane harvesting. Professor DM Jesudas; Research Centre TNAU, discussed various factors which influence selection of sugarcane harvesters. Dr MP Sharma- Principal Scientist (Retd) - IISR and Mr. Hemant Joshi- General Manager (Sales) - John Deer also shared their views. A panel consisting of the representatives from the sugar industry, the farm machinery manufacturers and the farmers held in-depth discussions in the post lunch session. Dr. Ram Milan Singh - DSCL, Mr. RK Taya - Dalmia Chini Mills, Mr. BK Yadav- BCML Group, Mr. Indeep Singh Bhatia- Simbhaoli Sugars, Mr. Siddhartha Agarwal- Mahindra Aplitrac, Mr. Sumit Singh Panghal- Shrijee Engineering Works, Dr. Arvind Singh - Farmer Representative, Mr. Sudhir Pawar - Kisan Jagriti Mancha presented their views in an hour long discussions. Representing the audience, Dr Rammurti Singh also expressed his views. Main points that emerged out of discussions were as under: The sugarcane harvesters available in the market were too expensive and are out of reach for the farmers. There is need to bring the costs down to the level of a Tractor. There is need for making provision of cheaper loan for these machines. Innovative financing schemes such as Sugar Development Fund (SDF) which offers loans @ 4% need to be explored for cost effective financing of the machines. The harvesters cannot be used in the Indian conditions due to the enforcement of UP Sugarcane Regulation of Purchase & Supply Act of 1953. This act needs an amendment so that farmers can sell all the cane grown in a particular field and not in bits and pieces. The sugarcane harvesting model practiced in Maharashtra need to be replicated in other states as well, where the Sugar Mills arrange to harvest the crops.

The seminar had witnessed the Partnership with the Organizations like NABARD, SBI, IOCL and BOB and brought together over hundred and eighty five delegates that included Chief Executive Officers, HODs, CDOs, Leading Farmers, and trade negotiators from the sugar and allied industry. The seminar was concluded by a vote of thanks by Mr. AK Shukla- Secretary General STAI.