Farmers seek help to cultivate cane like in Punjab

“Though the new Punjab cane planting method of raising the crop in 3 feet diameter and 3 feet deep pits ensures 80 tonnes, double the present yield of 40 tonnes per acre compared to the traditional planting method, local farmers are unable to opt for it due to the huge cost involved in digging the pits,” said Tamil Nadu Farmers Association Vellore district president K Raja.

The seed cane planting season is about to start and already there is an increasing demand for seed cane with farmers paying as much as Rs 3,500 per tonne, local farmer Ramu of Palleri in Wallajahpet taluk told DT Next.

However, the traditional seed cane planting in rows will ensure only around 40 tonnes per acre whereas the pit planting method assures 80 tonnes, Raja said.

“As 1,000-1,200 pits need to be dug in an acre, laborers charge a minimum of Rs 25 per pit resulting in Rs 25,000 being spent for this work alone which most farmers cannot afford,” added N Ramesh, association district secretary.

“If the agricultural engineering department can provide through rent or lease hawker attachments for tractors, then local farmers will be able to dig pits in one acres within two hours at a cost of Rs 2,000 which saves them both cost and time,” Raja said.

Elaborating on his experience, Raja said, “The normal method netted only 35–40 tonnes per acre, while yields through the pit method is nearly double and as there is still two months before harvest, the yields will increase further.” While Raja used a manual hawker to dig pits, “time consumed is less if hawkers are attached to tractors as more area can also be covered,” he added.