Vice-President Perceives

Maharashtra contributes a major share in the sugar production of the country. However, sugarcane agriculture is facing serious challenges in terms of stagnated cane yields, low productivity and profitability, compounded with serious labour shortage. The crop is cultivated under varied agroclimatic conditions of the state and consequently the state requires new varieties to meet the said challenges. Unfortunately, over the past 15 years only two major varieties CoC 671 and Co 86032 have been cultivated in most of the area.

The Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore has supported the sugarcane breeding activities of the country by providing facilities at the National Sugarcane Hybridization Garden since 1976 and at the National Sugarcane Distant Hybridization Garden since 2000. The Central Sugarcane Research Station, Padegaon and Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune from Maharshtra participate in this program through this National network. However, it is only recently that two new varieties CoM 0265 and CoVSI 9805 were identified through this program in the state. These two varieties are slowly spreading in the state.Even at the national level, although SBI developed and released a few promising varieties for the peninsular zone through AICRP(S), none of these were capable of replacing Co 86032 breed, which was released in 1994 by SBI.

Having realized the urgent need to improve the profitability of sugarcane cultivation on a sustainable basis, our visionary President decided to establish a fully equipped breeding center for the benefit of Maharashtra and adjoining states. VSI’s Sugarcane Breeding Centre thus came into existence at Amboli in Sindhudurg District in 2005 and has been made fully operational in subsequent years. Presently, more than 1000 germplasm comprising of basic species of Saccharum, interspecific hybrids of different nobilisation levels and related genera are available in the centre. The centre is also constantly adding new germplasm developed at various research stations for use as parents in hybridization. Data collected over the past four years show that about 65% of the clones flower and set seeds making it an excellent location for sugarcane breeding work. The flowering and the good seed set of the noble canes, the donors of sucrose genes provide a unique opportunity to utilize these species for breeding high sugarcane varieties.

Within one year of acquisition of land at Amboli, the first process of crossing was made in November 2006. This was possible only because of indefatigable and dedicated efforts of scientists who have total scientific freedom with the support of administration in providing infrastructure to complete the task with ease within the stipulated time frame set by the Hon. President. In the years to come, this centre is sure to become a key player in the national sugarcane breeding program.

Shivajirao Patil
Vice-President