Farmers in Natore are changing their fortunes by growing the sugarcane variety 46 developed by the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI). Using disease-free seed, they are getting higher yields than from other varieties: 450 to 600 maunds a bigha. On a trial basis, farmers grew the variety on 105 plots in the Natore sugar mill area, each harvesting 450 to 600 maunds a bigha, 210 to 350 maunds more than other varieties. BSRI is now providing seed, fertiliser and technical support to expand it.

To improve farmers' lives, the economy and the sugar supply, BSRI launched the project "Disease-free clean sugarcane seed and its spread at farmer level" in 2021-22. In 2024-25 it is running in seven sugar mill zones and non-mill zones, and in 70 upazilas of 31 districts. BSRI is the only institution working on sugarcane seed production and improvement. To overcome farmers' negative views on cane, it supplies certified foundation seed of BSRI-46 free of charge, along with free seed, fertiliser, pesticide and irrigation for certified foundation seed plots.

• Rustum Ali Sheikh of Pandit village, Natore Sadar, said he has doubled his profit and expects 450 maunds a bigha this year with free seed, fertiliser and irrigation.
• Saiful Islam said his slightly higher land is yielding 600 maunds a bigha.
• Jamat Ali said conventional local varieties produce no more than 8 cartloads, or 240 maunds, while variety 46 yields 15 to 18 cartloads; one mill cartload equals 1,200 kg or 30 maunds. Pest attacks are rare, but the tall canes must be tied in bunches, which lets in plenty of light and air.

Natore Sadar upazila agriculture officer Agriculturist Nilima Jahan said BSRI-46 is refined foundation seed and expanding it would benefit farmers and the sugar industry. Project director Dr. Md. Imam Hossain said disease is much lower on certified plots and the goal is to cut the sugar shortfall. Natore Sugar Mill managing director Mohammad Farid Hossain Bhuiyan said BSRI-46 is highly productive with higher sugar content and recovery, and extending the project by a year would allow replacement in the district's two mill zones. BSRI director general Dr. Kabir Uddin Ahmed said the project ends this year, but with the government moving to reopen closed sugar mills, much more cane will be needed, and BSRI-46 can double farmers' returns and help close the sugar gap. Farmers and BSRI staff have called for the project to be extended.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.