Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: The state level workshop on Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) was successfully organized by Nirman with support from AgSri, on 10th January, 2014 at CYSD in Bhubaneswar. Mtr. Prasant Mohanty, Executive Director, NIRMAN said SSI, an innovative sugarcane farming practice based on the principle of “More with Less” is boon for farmers. The cost of cultivation in seeds, manures, lab our in traditional method of sugarcane farming is more. SSI aims to provide practical option to farmers in improving the productivity of land, water and labor. It responds to organic manure as well. Hence, SSI reduces overall pressure on natural resources and contributes to recovery of ecosystem.

The workshop aimed at to create debate and draws attention of policy makers about the innovative method of Sugarcane cultivation and its inclusion in govt. policy and programs. There was general agreement to the fact that by using SSI practices the sucrose content of the sugarcane can be increased, it saves minimum of 40% of water requirement, requires less seeds and also organic fertilisers can replace chemical pesticides with net increment 20 % yield per acre. It increases the profitability of the farmers significantly while reducing the inputs-water, fertilizer, seed material and improving the productivity of water, land and lab our. Most importantly intercrop is possible in this innovative method of sugarcane farming which gives additional earning to farmers in first three months

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