Sugar Ethanol Bioenergy Int- Lucknow: The state government announced that it has increased efforts to protect sugarcane crops from flooding and disease. A government spokesperson said officials, including deputy sugarcane commissioners, district sugarcane officers, and sugar mill managers, have been instructed to visit the fields and stay in direct contact with farmers. They have also been directed to use drones for spraying medicines to save the crop.
According to the Sugarcane Development Department, medicines have already been sprayed over 24,218 hectares of sugarcane fields with the help of 329 drones.The spokesperson said heavy rains and waterlogging have damaged sugarcane in many regions. “This has led to rotting of cane roots, spread of pests and diseases, and an increase in attacks by wild animals,” the official said.To help farmers, sugar mills are distributing light trap machines to control pests. Farmers in flood-hit areas have been advised to use the pesticides recommended by scientists to protect crops from whitefly, root borer, top borer, red rot, pokka boing, and other harmful insects.The spokesperson added, “Farmers can also call the department’s toll-free number 18001213203 to get information on protecting their crops from pests, diseases, and wild animals.”
