Punjab Agriculture Department has recommended sowing of HSF-242 variety of sugarcane, which according to it can have a yield of over 1500 maund per acre. The department said that this variety has been introduced by the sugarcane research institute Faisalabad and recovery of sugar from it, is around 12.50 percent and promotion of this variety can help overcome the sugar crisis.
Experts of the agriculture department has also recommended that the sugarcane growers should start sowing sugarcane from the first week of February and use seeds up to 100 to 120 maund per acre to get maximum per acre yield. Other varieties, which have been recommended by the provincial agriculture department are BF-162, SPSG-26, SPF-213, SPF-245, CP 77-400, CB-72-2086, CP-43-33, CPF-237, HSF-240, CP-243 and HSF-242.
Sources in the department said that it has started training of the farmers to ensure increase in per acre yield of the sugarcane, while side by side its extension department, pest warning and quality control of pesticides and information wing have also been mobilised to work in this regard.
They said that 45 sugar mills were working in the province at present and their per day crushing capacity was 3,26,000 tons. Agricultural experts of the department has also advised the growers that instead of relying on ratoon crop of the sugarcane, they should go for the new seed as it would give maximum yield.
According to the department imbalance usage of fertilisers was one of the important factors of decline in per acre yield of the sugarcane in the country. While negligence in eradication of weeds was another factor. Agriculturist has advised the growers that to ensure maximum per acre yield they should use fertilisers after chemical examination of their land.