Sugarcane-Millet Intercropping to Improve Farmers' Earnings in Uttar Pradesh
Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh: Farmers in Uttar Pradesh's leading sugarcane-producing district, Bijnor, are set to benefit from a new agricultural initiative promoting the cultivation of millets (Shree Anna) alongside sugarcane. The campaign, launched under the ATMA Scheme 2026-27, aims to enhance farm profitability, reduce cultivation costs, and improve long-term soil health through sustainable farming practices.
The Agriculture Department plans to encourage more farmers to adopt this intercropping model, allowing them to harvest an additional crop without significantly increasing production costs.
Bijnor's Sugarcane Belt to Embrace Millets
Bijnor has nearly 2.65 lakh hectares under sugarcane cultivation, making it one of Uttar Pradesh's major sugarcane-growing districts. While sugarcane, wheat, and paddy dominate local agriculture, the cultivation area for millets such as sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), barnyard millet (sanwa), kodo millet, and foxtail millet (kangni) remains comparatively small.
During the previous agricultural season, millets were cultivated on around 300 hectares. Agriculture officials now plan to significantly expand this area through awareness campaigns and field demonstrations.
Intercropping with Sugarcane to Maximize Productivity
According to the Agriculture Department, millets will be sown according to the appropriate Kharif and Rabi seasons, while intercropping will be integrated with the district's autumn sugarcane planting season, which generally takes place during September and October using the trench planting method.
Millets will be planted between sugarcane rows, allowing farmers to generate additional income from the same piece of land. Officials believe this farming approach will also reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers while improving soil fertility through crop diversification.
Farm Schools to Train Farmers
To promote the initiative, the Agriculture Department will establish Farm Schools across selected villages. Agricultural scientists and extension officers will provide practical training on:
- Scientific millet cultivation techniques
- Modern crop management practices
- Benefits of intercropping systems
- Efficient nutrient and soil management
These training sessions will help farmers understand how to successfully integrate millets into existing sugarcane fields.
Demonstration Plots to Showcase Results
The department will also develop demonstration plots, where farmers can observe the complete cultivation process firsthand—from sowing and crop management to harvesting.
Field visits will enable growers to learn practical techniques directly from successful demonstration farms. Additionally, the government plans to distribute mini seed kits of millet varieties to encourage wider adoption.
Benefits of Sugarcane and Millet Intercropping
Agriculture experts believe combining sugarcane with millets can offer several long-term advantages:
- Additional income from an extra crop.
- Better utilization of agricultural land.
- Lower cultivation costs through efficient resource use.
- Improved soil fertility and organic matter.
- Reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers.
- Greater crop diversity and climate resilience.
- Increased production of nutritious millets with expanding market opportunities.
Sustainable Farming for Higher Income
The Agriculture Department expects the initiative to encourage more farmers to diversify their cropping systems while maintaining sugarcane production. By integrating nutrient-rich millets into sugarcane fields, farmers can improve both economic returns and environmental sustainability.
As demand for millets continues to grow due to their nutritional value and climate resilience, sugarcane-millet intercropping could become a practical model for increasing farm income and promoting sustainable agriculture across Uttar Pradesh.
