A state-of-the-art Advanced Sugarcane Research Centre will be established at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore with an investment of Rs 90 crore, aimed at developing high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofuel-friendly sugarcane varieties. The announcement was made by Harshvardhan Patil, President of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF), who said the project is designed to strengthen India’s sugar sector and improve long-term sustainability. The initiative will receive financial support from the NFCSF, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), ICAR and the Union Agriculture Ministry, with the Centre expected to contribute about Rs 45 crore.
Speaking in Coimbatore, Patil highlighted the economic importance of the sugar industry, which supports nearly six crore sugarcane farmers, 50 lakh sugar mill workers and more than one crore seasonal harvesting labourers. He said the sector generates annual trade worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore and contributes more than Rs 16,000 crore in taxes to the government. However, he noted that sugar mills are facing severe raw material shortages, and crushing periods have fallen from 150-200 days to around 100 days, making year-round operations financially challenging.
The new research centre will be developed over the next four years and will focus on creating high-yield and high-sugar recovery sugarcane varieties, along with climate-resilient strains capable of withstanding drought, floods, salinity and extreme heat. Another major objective is to develop varieties suitable for ethanol and other biofuel production, supporting India’s clean energy and blending goals.
Patil urged scientists to reduce the time required for developing new sugarcane varieties and praised the Coimbatore institute for releasing successful varieties such as Co 86032 and Co 0238, which are widely cultivated across the country. He added that the use of artificial intelligence, precision farming and modern breeding technologies could reduce cultivation costs by up to 40% and increase productivity by around 30%, while diversification into biofuel and power generation would help ensure the long-term sustainability of the sugar industry.
P. Govindaraj, Director of the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, said the funding would enable the institute to adopt advanced technologies such as genome editing and molecular breeding to develop sugarcane varieties resistant to diseases including Pokkah Boeng and better adapted to changing climate conditions. The upcoming centre is expected to become a major hub for next-generation sugarcane research in India, supporting both higher farmer incomes and the future growth of the sugar and ethanol industries.
