Adoption of Low Cost Technologies for Improving the Productivity of Sugarcane and Farmers Income in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh

Sugarcane cultivation in Vizianagaram district is confined to rainfall dependent with little tankfed situation under low fertile red sandy loam soils. Out of 20,865 ha of sugarcane cultivation 60% of area is under complete rainfed cultivation. The productivity of sugarcane in Visakhapatnam district was very low as compared to other sugarcane growing districts in the state because of certain weather constraints viz., continuous moisture stress, prolonged dry spells and waterlogged conditions in rainy season besides poor adoption of new technologies. Based on the constraints need based on-farm demonstrations, skill demonstrations and training programmes were conducted by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University extension wing, DAATT Centre, Vizianagaram on various agro-techniques which were effective and economical for sugarcane farmers of the district. The results revealed that productivity of sugarcane was increased to 29.4% by good agricultural practices in rainfed sugarcane including set treatment in 1% lime solution+ trash mulching+ recommended dose of balanced fertilizers, 18.1% increased cane yields by using drought resistant varieties under rainfed situations and 24.1% increase by whip smut disease management. Adopting paired row system of planting increased number of millable canes which in turn increased the cane yield up to 14.7%, besides achieving additional income of Rs.10,583 through intercrop blackgram. The onfarm demonstrations indicated an increase in cane yield of sugarcane from existing 56.2 t ha-1 to 79.8 t ha-1 by adopting appropriate management practices duly considering the climate conditions with efficient transfer of technology.