Panaji (Goa): In a bid to improve the productivity and area under sugarcane crop, the State government has introduced Modified Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (MSSI) techniques for the cultivators.

The scheme called ‘Promotion of MSSI’ aims at raising the sugarcane nursery in polytrays using single bud. The farmers will be given financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per hector towards the cost of land preparation and planting of single bud seedlings.

“The average area of cultivation under the Sugarcane crop in the State has remained static over the year so also the average production. It is important to improve the productivity and area under sugarcane crop so that the crop is more remunerative for farmers and also there is adequate supply of cane to the only sugar factory in co-operative sector in the State,” director Agriculture Ulhas Kakode said.

He said the same can be achieved by bringing new areas under the crop and by following MSSI techniques by the cultivators.

The scheme encourages farmers to undertake transplanting of seedlings of 25-30 day age in the main field and to ensure optimum plant spacing in the main field. It also ensure adequate moisture level by use of efficient irrigation system like drip irrigation. MSSI also encourage the cultivators for use of organic plant nutrients & plant protection measures and also inter cropping for effective utilization of land and for better remuneration.

For availing the benefit under the scheme, government has laid down conditions that the farmer claiming assistance should be registered sugarcane grower with Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Kharkhana (SSSK) Ltd and the land under cultivation should be in his or her name.

Team TNV