COIMBATORE: The ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI), Coimbatore, has launched a training programme to increase sugarcane farming among tribal communities in the Sittilingi Valley in Dharmapuri district.The training programme, titled “Improved Sugarcane Technologies for Tribal Farmers (TISTT),” was held at the institute on Sept 17 and 18, under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribe Component (DAPSTC) project. The programme included lectures, farmer–scientist interactions and field visits to observe improved varieties and crop management practices. Participants were also shown sugarcane machinery, a sugarcane-based integrated farming system demonstration unit and a live demonstration of a sett-treatment device.More than 20 people from tribal hamlets including Avalur, Velanoor, Koraiyaru, Paalakuttai, Kaaliyankottai and Sittilingi attended the training and are expected to share the practices with farmers in their settlements.A second phase of training is scheduled for Sept 29 and 30.Dr D Puthira Prathap, principal scientist and nodal officer, said an ICAR-SBI team visited Sittilingi Valley in April, where Malayali tribal farmers cultivate sugarcane and supply cane to the Subramaniya Siva Co-operative Sugar Mills, Harur. Based on field interactions and constraints flagged by farmers, the institute structured the training in two phases to improve productivity and address location-specific issues.He said sugarcane area in Dharmapuri had declined from 7,000 hectares in 2011 to 2,674 hectares in 2024-25, with cultivation impacted by drought, water scarcity, labour issues and white grub infestation. According to him, while tribal participation in sugarcane farming remains limited in Tamil Nadu, Dharmapuri records good sugar recovery, prompting a focus on drought management, white grub control and appropriate mechanisation.At the inaugural session, ICAR-SBI director Dr P Govindaraj highlighted the challenges facing the sugarcane sector in Tamil Nadu compared with other states and urged farmers to adopt new high-yielding varieties and scientific practices to manage emerging pests and diseases to improve profitability.ICAR-SBI handed over seed material of the newly released high-yielding mid-late variety Co 21003 to the Subramaniya Siva Co-operative Sugar Mills for multiplication and distribution among growers.
