Cane breeding in Pakistan

It is strange that least attention is paid to develop raw material for sugar industry although Pakistan has a huge setup of sugar industry. The industry should operate with definite objectives based on high sugarcane yield per unit area. Thus the raw material should be assured on sound footings. It is only possible with full facilities of cane breeding work.

Fortunately coastal area of Thatta district is blessed with the climate quite favorable for cane flowering. Most of thick and thin varieties produce quite healthy arrows; flowering intensity varies from 30 to 100% with varying times of arrow emergence from November to February. Viability is however low and has to be corrected under glass house conditions as done in cane breeding stations, abroad. Breeding station in this area can meet the variety needs of Pakistan Sugar Industry.  

In the recent past, a project on Cane Breeding Station in lower Sindh was prepared and its PC-I was submitted to the Chairman PSMA. The chairman took keen interest to get it through from his executive committee. Decision for implementation of the project is still pending with honorable members.

Some suggestions for propagation of high sugar varieties

• Cane growers should have 2-3 varieties at a time to manage harvesting according to their maturity period.
• Rust susceptible varieties should be confined to spring planting.
• Special seed nurseries may be maintained to safe guard the variety from disease infection (smut).
• Drought affected areas should be experienced to grow varieties like CP 43-33, L 116, SPF 213 and HSF 240.
• Preferably out field trials should be conducted at sugar mills farms.
• In no case variety trials should be conducted at grower’s fields, if necessary may be conducted with sugar mill’s contribution.
• Sugar mills should have seed farms for seed multiplication under the supervision of research staff.
• Sugar industry should allocate budget for seed multiplication on regular basis.
• The industry should sacrifice yield over recovery for a variety with high sugar recoveries but low cane yield, and should compensate the growers to harvest maximum sugar per hector.
• Payment should be linked with sugar contents of varieties, to promote growing high sugar varieties cane.
• Millers must multiply seed of new varieties at their farms under the supervision of research staff.