Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that a separate team will be established within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for sugarcane research and policy development.

Speaking at a national seminar on the sugarcane economy – jointly organised by Rural Voice, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, and ICAR – Singh said the new initiative would focus on practical issues facing farmers and the sugar industry.

The Minister highlighted that while sugarcane variety 238 has shown high sugar content, it remains vulnerable to red rot disease, underscoring the need for developing resilient alternatives. He warned against the risks of monocropping, pointing to soil nutrient depletion and reduced nitrogen fixation,

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