All India Coordinated Research Project on Sugarcane is serving the Nation by coordinating research work on sugarcane since 1970 through a network of sugarcane research stations of ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, State Govt. Departments and Non-Government Organizations. At present, there are 22 regular centers and 17 voluntary centers for conducting research and multi-location testing of technology for wider adoption. As per the mandate, main emphasis is laid on the development of improved sugarcane varieties, crop production and protection technologies suited to commercial cultivation under different agro-climatic conditions in the country. Under flagship programme of varietal development, 144 sugarcane varieties have been developed through AICRP on Sugarcane and of these, 82 varieties have been released and notified by Central Varietal Release Committee (CVRC) for commercial cultivation in different parts of the country. The improved sugarcane varieties for cane yield, sugar recovery and resistance against major insect- pest and diseases for various climatic conditions have increased the sugar production of the country.
The Project provides forum to the researchers for deliberations on new varieties and making recommendations on crop production and crop protection. In order to provide fluff to the breeders, a National Hybridization Garden was established in 1972 at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute wherein all the parents so far identified for their characters are planted in separate plots and the breeders of the centers make use of it for crossing and fluff production. SBI, Coimbatore also extends facility for crossing work at the National Distant Hybridization facility established at Agali (District Palakkad, Kerala). The research programmes of the project are decided according to the mandate and objectives of the AICRP on Sugarcane.
The headquarters of the Project (Coordination Unit) is housed in the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow(UP).
Mandates of the Project:
1.Evaluation of locally adapted sugarcane varieties with improved yield and quality as well as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
2.Development of package of practices for higher cane & sugar production.
3.Development of low cost technologies for sugarcane production.
4.Intensifying and extending the networking facility and information generation for transfer of technology to the farmers and sugar industry.