Page 60 - BCML AR 2019-20

conventional mindsets. The farmer used generating lower recovery and yield. with seed treatment in hot & normal
traditional planting equipment but with As ratoon management is relatively less water. Rogueing of red rot affected plant
awareness, the use of farm mechanisation prevalent in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, the and spot application of bleaching powder
equipment is growing. BCML facilitated Company provided training to farmers was done to manage Red rot spread.
this transition through encouragement to to enhance the ratoon crop across its y yOverall management of red rot and
local entrepreneurs in purchasing model command areas, enhancing cane output smut disease by foliar spray.
technology agri-implements for providing by promoting a trash mulcher machine y yManaging the infestation of termite and
other growers of the area the agri- and ethophon chemical for improving root borer in the standing crop after rain.
implement services on a custom hire basis ratoon sprouting and sustaining soil
and reasonable charges, training farmers health as well as enhancing output. A y yManagement of various borers viz. early
in superior plantation techniques. The ratoon yield competition programme was shoot borer, top borer, root borer etc.
Company trains farmers in trash mulching launched for healthy competition among y yManagement of other pests and disease
that enhances soil fertility. cane growers for getting a better ratoon as per occurrence by using recommended
yield. Total integrated ratoon management pesticides and fungicides through foliar
Increased use of agri-inputs practice was suggested to growers, which spray.
The quality and availability of agri-inputs not only resulted in increased yields to
catalyse crop yield and health. A number growers but also increased recovery. Seed diversification
of years ago, farmers in BCML’s command The Company covered more than 90%
areas consumed average products with Management of insects, of its aggregate command areas with
erratic outcomes. BCML made a timely pests and disease the superior early variety. As a proactive
intervention to assist farmers make The management of insects, pests and precautionary measure, the Company
informed decisions through standardised disease is of utmost importance to identified other early maturing cane
products and processes; the Company achieve sustainable performance since varieties for future seed multiplication
conducted soil tests across farms to its incidence directly impacts not only programme, ensuring that there is proper
ascertain specific needs. It appointed the yield of sugarcane but also the sugar varietal balance of high yielding sugarcane
a vendor to provide quality inputs at recovery. The Company follows not only varieties.
subsidised costs, strengthening cane a proactive and preventive approach but Field staff training
yields. Besides, the Company engaged the crop is monitored in the entire life
in forecasting studies, providing farmers cycle right from sowing to harvesting for Field training drives sugar cane yield and
with agrochemicals to protect crops from managing insects, pests and disease. quality comprising the use of modern
probable pest attacks. practices. This training helps widen the
Major steps included: bandwidth of the Company’s field staff,
Ratoon management y yoil treatment to manage soil-borne making them the first points of reference
S
The ratoon crop was regarded as a bonus pathogens like red rot, wilt, root rot etc. whenever a farmer seeks to have field
crop, offering a lower cultivation cost by Application of agri-inputs to manage the issues addressed with immediacy and
20-30% as it obviated the need for seed infestation of termite and root borer. informed inputs.
material. Owing to this, growers gave y yManagement of soil borne and insects
little care to the ratoon crop, thereby borne diseases as well as termite insect

9.83 11.93 80.57 102.03 ~32 ~90

2014-15 2019-20 2014-15 2019-20 2014-15 2019-20

Achieved sugar recovery (%) Cane crushed (lac tonnes) Early maturing cane variety (%)

129.60 149.97 ~4.65 ~5.28

2014-15 2019-20 2014-15 2019-20

Yield in command area (quintal per acre) Farmers addressed ( lacs)

58 | Balrampur Chini Mills Limited