Parliament Question: Initiatives for Sugarcane Cultivation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 370 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21ST JULY, 2026 INITIATIVES FOR SUGARCANE CULTIVATION 370. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra have taken a joint initiative to motivate tribal people in Attappady block in Palakkad to revive sugarcane crop production; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is also a fact that the ICAR-SBI would provide seeds and technical inputs while the KVK Palakkad would establish a jaggery production unit in Attappady block; (d) whether it is also a fact that sugarcane crop is raised in about 1,000 hectares in Kerala; and (e) whether it is also a fact that the tribal community in Attappady has expressed their readiness to take to cultivation of sugarcane in a big way? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a) to (c): Yes, under the DAPSTC (Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribe Component) project, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI) conducted Frontline Demonstration (FLD) of Sugarcane Variety Co 14012 in the field of a tribal woman farmer at Pudur, a village notified under the DA-JGUA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gam Utkarsh Abhiyan). The demonstration is a pioneering initiative to provide the first-hand exposure to the field performance and yield potential of Co 14012 under local conditions to the tribal farmers and extension personnel. An Awareness cum Training Campaign for ‘Enhancement of Tribal Income (ATCETI@Attapady)’, was organised in February 2025 in collaboration with ICAR - KVK, Palakkad followed by several village-level meetings. A ‘Tribal awareness campaign’ was organized in Melachootra hamlet, Attappady during June 2026 to promote sugarcane 1cultivation, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and encourage greater participation of tribal farmers in sugarcane-based farming systems. During the Field Day organised at Attappady, quality seed material of Co 14012 was supplied to all participants to motivate them to take up sugarcane cultivation. The technical inputs are provided through the awareness and training campaigns conducted at regular intervals. ICAR-KVK, Palakkad is establishing a small-scale jaggery production demonstration unit at Attappady. (d) & (e): Yes, Sugarcane was cultivated in about 920 hectares in Kerala during 2021 which has reduced to 253.20 hectares during 2025. ***** 2