Tribal Sugarcane Farmers Encouraged to Adopt Chemical-Free Cultivation Practices

ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute conducts training and farmer-scientist interaction under DAPSTC initiative

9 July 2025, Coimbatore

Tribal sugarcane farmers were urged to adopt chemical-free farming by integrating their Indigenous Technical Knowledge with modern natural farming practices at a training programme organized by the ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore. The event was held under the ‘Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribe Component (DAPSTC)’ project.

The programme, titled ‘Sugarcane Farming for Prosperity’, targeted tribal farmers from Karumanthurai, Salem district. A Farmer-Scientist Interaction was also arranged for participants of the Farm School on All India Radio (AIR) from across Tamil Nadu.

Shri M.G. Ganesan, Project Director, Project Nilgiri Tahr, Government of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the benefits of chemical-free farming, citing the successful adoption of such practices by Kaani tribes in Tirunelveli. Commending ICAR–SBI’s work in tribal regions such as the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, he lauded the Institute’s ecologically sensitive approach developed in consultation with the Forest Department. He suggested the model could be replicated by other organizations.

Presiding over the event, Dr. P. Govindaraj, Director, ICAR–SBI, underscored the continuing relevance of radio-based outreach. The enthusiastic participation of farmers from remote areas in the Farm School programme, he noted, is evidence of radio’s enduring credibility. He expressed hope that such initiatives would positively transform sugarcane farming in the state. Dr. Govindaraj also acknowledged the contributions of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the State Rural Livelihood Mission in reaching remote tribal settlements.

As part of the programme, farmers visited demonstration plots of improved sugarcane varieties, observed mechanized farm operations, and toured an integrated farming system unit. Power tillers and battery-operated sprayers were distributed to tribal settlements in Molayanoor and Vilampatti. A short documentary titled “Empowering Tribals: Transforming Lives” was screened during the event.

Registered sugarcane growers from Subramaniya Siva Co-operative Sugar Mills Ltd., Dharmapuri, and Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd., Erode also participated in the programme.

(Source: ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore)