In a significant step toward transforming India’s sugarcane sector, the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), in partnership with the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, convened a high-level brainstorming session on “Enhancing Sustainable Sugarcane Production in India.” The session brought together leading policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to chart a roadmap for resilient, climate-smart sugarcane cultivation practices aimed at improving productivity, resource efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

In a landmark effort to revitalise India’s sugarcane sector, the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), in collaboration with the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, hosted a high-level brainstorming session on “Enhancing Sustainable Sugarcane Production in India.” The meeting marked a significant push for systemic reforms aimed at boosting farmer incomes, improving sector resilience, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

The session brought together top government officials, agricultural scientists, industry leaders, and policy experts to address the mounting challenges facing the sugarcane ecosystem—including declining yields, climate variability, pest outbreaks, and shrinking cultivation areas.

Opening the dialogue, ISMA President Gautam Goel laid out a six-point roadmap focusing on varietal diversification, genome innovation, decentralised seed systems, climate-smart agriculture, and enabling policy reforms. He also proposed the creation of a National Mission on Sugarcane to drive coordinated action across stakeholders.

“The setbacks this season highlight the need to rethink our approach. Investing in resilient varieties and robust local seed systems is critical. With collective effort, we can ensure better returns for farmers and a more sustainable sugar industry,” Goel said.

Government representatives echoed this urgency. Aswani Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Sugar) at DFPD, underscored the sector’s pivotal role in the rural economy, supporting over 55 million livelihoods and generating over Rs 1 lakh crore in cane payments annually. He praised collaborative models such as ISMA’s engagement with the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute as crucial to bridging innovation and impact.

“The sugarcane sector is under pressure, but the right partnerships and policies can turn things around. Climate-resilient, location-specific varieties and better seed systems are key,” Srivastava noted.

Chaired by Roshan Lal Tamak, head of ISMA’s Agriculture Sub-Committee, the session spotlighted actionable strategies ranging from mechanisation and digital adoption to capacity-building for farmers. ISMA Vice President Niraj Shirgaokar called for swift execution and accountability: “Ideas must now translate into measurable outcomes. The proposed National Mission is a strong start, but delivery is critical.”

ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani emphasized continued innovation and frequent knowledge-sharing to accelerate adoption of new technologies. “From precision irrigation to disease forecasting, farmers must be equipped with the right tools. ISMA will continue fostering collective action through dialogue,” he said.

The session closed with consensus on the need for a mission-driven approach to transform India’s sugarcane economy—anchored in innovation, policy support, and farmer-centric implementation.