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““More with Less”More with Less”The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI)

in India and Beyond:in India and Beyond:Experience & Future DirectionsExperience & Future Directions

Dr. Biksham GujjaDr. Biksham Gujjabg@agsri.com

www.agsri.comwww.agsri.com

Cornell University, 8Cornell University, 8thth February 2013 February 2013

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‘‘Modern’ agriculture is based on Modern’ agriculture is based on one thing -- More ..one thing -- More ..

Farmers need to give Farmers need to give moremore (inputs, water, seeds, (inputs, water, seeds, etc.) to get etc.) to get moremore (production). (production).

After 5 decades or so of this strategy:After 5 decades or so of this strategy:

Giving more has become Giving more has become so much moreso much more that that farmers, Governments and ecosystems are not farmers, Governments and ecosystems are not able to give any more .. There is able to give any more .. There is now a crisis in now a crisis in agriculture -- a ‘more crisis’.agriculture -- a ‘more crisis’.

It is NOT about feeding 9 billion people, but It is NOT about feeding 9 billion people, but about feeding the same old research, same about feeding the same old research, same thinking, and same resultsthinking, and same results

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Answer to ‘More crisis’ is more Answer to ‘More crisis’ is more technology, control, more money..technology, control, more money..

• Bio technolokgyBio technolokgy• GMsGMs• High-tech irrigationHigh-tech irrigation• Industrial agricultureIndustrial agriculture

• Future: focus on even more complicated Future: focus on even more complicated even more expensive solutions?even more expensive solutions?

• Conversely: Is More with Less possible?? Conversely: Is More with Less possible??

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‘‘More with less’ is major challengeMore with less’ is major challenge

• First, it is a First, it is a conceptualconceptual challenge, negating challenge, negating assumptions on which our agriculture assumptions on which our agriculture research and funding are based on so farresearch and funding are based on so far

• It is a It is a managementmanagement challenge: What will challenge: What will (we) experts do if solutions are simple?(we) experts do if solutions are simple?

• It is It is resource allocationresource allocation challenge: now challenge: now large investments in fertilisers, pesticides, large investments in fertilisers, pesticides, companies, dams.companies, dams.

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SSI/ SRI … Back to basics..SSI/ SRI … Back to basics..• It is about raising the It is about raising the productivityproductivity of land, labour, of land, labour,

water, recognizing that there are limits, costs and water, recognizing that there are limits, costs and trade-offs.trade-offs.

• It is not just about how It is not just about how muchmuch you produce: How you produce: How do you produce? With what? For what? For how do you produce? With what? For what? For how long?long?– It is about choices for farmers, consumersIt is about choices for farmers, consumers– It is about reducing our footprint on the environment – It is about reducing our footprint on the environment –

use less water, create less pollution, fewer negative use less water, create less pollution, fewer negative impacts.impacts.

– It is about quality of life..It is about quality of life..

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Sugarcane: India’s position..Sugarcane: India’s position..

IndiaIndia GlobalGlobal• Area (m ha):Area (m ha): 4.94 4.94 (21 %)(21 %) 23.8223.82• Cane production (m t):Cane production (m t): 339.17 339.17 (20 %)(20 %) 1685.441685.44• Cane productivity (t/ha): 68.60 Cane productivity (t/ha): 68.60 (97 %)(97 %) 70.77 70.77 • Sugar production (m t):Sugar production (m t): 24.39 24.39 (18 %)(18 %) 135.00**135.00**

• Consumption (m t):Consumption (m t): 26.73* 26.73* (20.5%)(20.5%) 130.00**130.00**

* Gur & Khandsari included* Gur & Khandsari included ** Beet sugar excluded** Beet sugar excluded

Second largest producer in worldSecond largest producer in worldLargest consumer!! ... and increasingLargest consumer!! ... and increasingProcess of liberalisation is going on …Process of liberalisation is going on …

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Comparison of Area, ProductionComparison of Area, Productionand Productivityand Productivity

4,170

1,695

405 267

9,077

77.67

59.9865.75

70.1079.04

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Brazil India China Australia South Africa

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292

111

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World's major sugar consumers

Source::Coop Sugar. Vol 42(4), Dec-2010

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Source: Department of Food & Public Distributionwww. dfpd.nic.in/fcamin/sites/.../Profile%20of%20sugar%20mills.xls

Distribution of Sugar Mills in IndiaDistribution of Sugar Mills in India

Sl. No. StateNo. of

Sugar Mills1 Maharashtra 2012 Uttar Pradesh 1563 Karnataka 634 Tamil Nadu 445 Andhra Pradesh 436 Bihar 277 Punjab 248 Gujarat 239 Madhya Pradesh 18

10 Haryana 1611 Uttarakhand 1012 Orissa 8

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Trends in Area and Productivity of Sugarcane in India

Source: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, India

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Trends: Sugar Recovery Rate in India

Source: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, India

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Trends: India's Export and Import of Sugar

Source: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, India

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Per capita Consumption of Sugar and Gur & Khandsari in India

Source: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, India

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Distribution of Sugar MillsDistribution of Sugar Mills(Co-operative & Pvt.)(Co-operative & Pvt.)

Total Sugarcane Area: 0.96 Million HaTotal Sugarcane Area: 0.96 Million HaTotal Sugar Factories Operated: 170Total Sugar Factories Operated: 170Sugarcane Growing Districts: 26Sugarcane Growing Districts: 26

Source: Aug 2012, Commissionerate of Sugar, Maharashtra State, Pune

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Maharashtra

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Sugarcane Production: IssuesSugarcane Production: Issues

• Water, water & waterWater, water & water• Climatic changeClimatic change• Water-logging & Water-logging &

droughtdrought• Low cane yieldsLow cane yields• Low rates of sugar Low rates of sugar

recovery from canerecovery from cane• Old varieties in useOld varieties in use

• High input costsHigh input costs• Absence of intercultureAbsence of interculture• Diseases and pests Diseases and pests • Neglected ratoonsNeglected ratoons• Soil degradationSoil degradation• Lack of micronutrients Lack of micronutrients

and application of and application of inputsinputs

Most of the sugarcane cultivation area is irrigated!

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Crop water useCrop water use

=1kg 1,500 - 3,000 litres water

=1kg 3,000- 5,000

litres water

=1kg 3,000 – 5,000 litres water

So, we eat, wear and drink .. water…

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Extreme Scarcity<500

Scarcity500-1,000

Stress1,000-1,700

Adequate1,700-4,000

Abundant4,000-10,000

Surplus>10,000

Ocean/Inland Water

No Data

m3/person/year

Water Availability: 1975Water Availability: 1975

Water Availability: 2025Water Availability: 2025

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SSI: What is it?SSI: What is it?

• Less seed, fertiliser and waterLess seed, fertiliser and water• Farm-based method using Farm-based method using

targeted inputstargeted inputs• Encouragement of inter-cropsEncouragement of inter-crops• Improves productivity of land, Improves productivity of land,

water and labor -- all at the water and labor -- all at the same timesame time

• Climate-, ecosystem- and Climate-, ecosystem- and socially-friendlysocially-friendly

• Opens up new business Opens up new business opportunitiesopportunities

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Removing leaves from healthy canesRemoving leaves from healthy canes Cutting buds from canesCutting buds from canes

Cutting buds from canesCutting buds from canes Bud treatmentBud treatment

The SSI Process: Version 1.0

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The SSI Process: Version 1.0

Filling buds in gunny bag for pre-sproutingFilling buds in gunny bag for pre-sprouting Covering of buds filled in gunny bags for Covering of buds filled in gunny bags for pre-sprouting by cane trashpre-sprouting by cane trash

Covering of buds filled in gunny bags for Covering of buds filled in gunny bags for pre-sprouting by plastic sheetpre-sprouting by plastic sheet

Pre-sprouted buds (3 days)Pre-sprouted buds (3 days)

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Partly filling of coco-pith in the trayPartly filling of coco-pith in the tray Placing the pre-sprouted buds in the Placing the pre-sprouted buds in the tray and covering the buds completely tray and covering the buds completely

with coco-pithwith coco-pith

The SSI Process: Version 1.0

Stacking: placing trays one above the otherStacking: placing trays one above the other Stacking (for 5-8 days)Stacking (for 5-8 days)

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Stacking opened after 5 days)Stacking opened after 5 days) Watering (20-25 days)Watering (20-25 days)

GradingGradingWell-maintained nurseryWell-maintained nursery

The SSI Process: Version 1.0

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The SSI Process: Version 1.0The SSI Process: Version 1.0Transplanting of 25-35 day-old SeedlingsTransplanting of 25-35 day-old Seedlings

Safe transportation to fieldSafe transportation to fieldSeedlings ready for transplantingSeedlings ready for transplanting

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Sugarcane: Seed cane plantingSugarcane: Seed cane planting

• Requires12-15% of annual production Requires12-15% of annual production • Bulky, cumbersome and costlyBulky, cumbersome and costly• Labour-intensive, ineffectiveLabour-intensive, ineffective• Constrains promotion of new varietiesConstrains promotion of new varieties• Seed treatment is impossibleSeed treatment is impossible• Not possible to fix plant populationNot possible to fix plant population

Result of cane planting:Result of cane planting:• Poor tilleringPoor tillering• Poor yieldsPoor yields• More input costsMore input costs• Pest attacksPest attacks

AgSri is a sugarcane seed company - opens whole new business!

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SSI: Experience so far..1SSI: Experience so far..1

• Farmers buy inFarmers buy in• One-month-old seedlings are One-month-old seedlings are

bestbest• Labour is savedLabour is saved• Water is saved in 1st monthWater is saved in 1st month• Uniform tilleringUniform tillering• Yield increaseYield increase• Better sugar formationBetter sugar formation

Most difficult part of the work has been done…

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SSI: Experience so far..2SSI: Experience so far..2

• Seedling cost is higher than seed Seedling cost is higher than seed cane, but planting costs lesscane, but planting costs less

• Training requiredTraining required• Demand exists; willingness to pay is Demand exists; willingness to pay is

developingdeveloping• Mills like it and are willing to Mills like it and are willing to

promotepromote• Needs considerable process Needs considerable process

improvementimprovement

Scaling up, reaching out improving quality…

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Case Study 1

• Name of farmer: Bastapure Sagar Narsingh• Place: Sakhra, Latur, Maharashtra• Experience in sugarcane farming: 20 years• Experience on SSI: 1 year• Total agricultural land: 13 acres• SSI area: 4 acres• Variety: Co- 86032• No. of seedlings planted: 20,000• Spacing: 5 x 2 ft• Date of transplantation: 06-Nov-2011• Avg. no. of millable canes: 13• Avg. length & girth of canes: 9 feet / 2.6 cm • Date of crop harvested: 17-Nov-2012• Avg. yield: 57 t / acre• Rate for cane sold: Rs. 2500 per ton• Total income: Rs. 142,500• Cost of cultivation: Rs. 47,000• Net income: Rs. 95,500• Cane sold: To factory

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Case Study 2

• Name of farmer: Rajkumar Jadhav• Place: Dhanori, Nilangna, Maharashtra• Experience in sugarcane farming: 5 years• Experience on SSI: 1 year• Total agricultural land: 15 acres• SSI area: 6 acres• Variety: Co- 671• No. of seedlings planted: 33,000• Spacing: 6 x 1.5 ft• Date of transplantation: 14-Jan-2012• Avg. no. of millable canes: 8• Avg. length & girth of canes: 8 feet / 2.7 cm • Date of crop harvested: 25-Dec-2012• Avg. yield: 50 t / acre• Rate for cane sold: Rs. 2500 per ton• Total income: Rs. 125,000• Cost of cultivation: Rs. 60,000• Net income: Rs. 65,000• Cane sold: To factory

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Cost-Benefit Analysis of 2 Case StudiesSSI vs. Conventional (per acre)

Avg. yield of Latur district: Avg. yield of Latur district: 28 t/acre28 t/acre

SSI vs. Conventional

ParticularsBastapure Sagar Narsingh Rajkumar Jadhav

SSI Conventional SSI Conventional

Land Cost Own land Own land Own land Own land

Seed Cost 10,000 7,000 11000 7,500

Land Preparation Cost 2,000 2,000 3,000 6,500

Transplantation 500 2,000 1,000 1,500

Fertilizer Cost 18,000 18,000 25,000 25,000

Weeding/Earthing up 8,000 15,000 9,000 15,000

Propping-up NA NA 1,000 1,000

Irrigation 8,500 10,000 10,000 15,000

Harvesting By factory By factory By factory By factory

TOTAL COST 47,000 54,000 60,000 71,500

Output (t/acre) 57 40 50 40

Total Income 1,42,500 1,00,000 1,25,000 1,00,000

NET INCOME 95,500 46,000 65,000 28,500

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SSI experiences so far..

• Andhra Pradesh– 25 acres (10 ha) in Zaheerabad, A.P., 2009-10– 40 acres (16 ha) in Zaheerabad, A.P., 2010-11– 100 acres (40 ha) in Zaheerabad, A.P., 2011-12

• Uttar Pradesh– 25 acres (10 ha) in Triveni Sugar factory, 2009-10– 381 acres (154 ha) in 7 districts of Triveni Sugar units, 2010-11– 757 acres (305 ha) in 7 districts of Triveni Sugar units, 2011-12

• Odisha– 5 acres (2 ha) in Nayagarh, Odisha, 2009-10– 27 acres (11 ha) in Nayagarh, Odisha, 2009-10– 60 acres (24 ha) in Nayagarh, Odisha, 2010-11– 135 acres (55 ha) in Nayagarh, Bargarh, Ganjam, Odisha, 2011-12– 200 acres (81 ha) in Nayagarh, Bargarh, Ganjam, Odisha, 2012-13

• Punjab– 9 acres (3.6 ha) in Gurdaspur, Punjab, 2010-11

• Maharashtra– 124 acres (50 ha) in Latur, Maharashtra, 2011-12– 422 acres (170 ha) in Sholapur, Maharashtra, 2012-13– 102 acres (41 ha) in Beed, Maharashtra, 2012-13

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Increase in Cane YieldIncrease in Cane Yield

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. 2009 – Zaheerabad, AP (WWF-ICRISAT Project) 25 SSI plots 15 Traditional plots 138 t/ha 115 t/ha (increase of 20%)

(Published in Sugtech Journal, Aug, 2012)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------2. 2010 – Demo plots -17 AP, TN, Orissa, UP by AgSri SSI plots Traditional plots 112.4 t/ha 86.6 t/ha (increase of 29.7%)

(Published as booklet by AgSri:- http://www.agsri.com/images/documents/ssi/AgSri_SSI%20casestudy%20book_low%20res15-03-12.pdf)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Other BenefitsOther Benefits

• Seed cane saving – reduce requirementsSeed cane saving – reduce requirementsConventional 7-10 t/ha; SSI only 1.25 t/haConventional 7-10 t/ha; SSI only 1.25 t/ha

• Water saving in nursery –Water saving in nursery – 90 % in the first month90 % in the first month

• Water saving in main field –Water saving in main field – Use of drip system & wide Use of drip system & wide spacing saves up to 30-60%spacing saves up to 30-60%

• Scope for IntercroppingScope for Intercropping… improve soil fertility… improve soil fertility

Saving in conventional fertilisers and pesticides due to Saving in conventional fertilisers and pesticides due to scope for more targeted doses, with high intake methodsscope for more targeted doses, with high intake methods

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Contd..Contd..

• Faster varietal spread –Faster varietal spread –

Conventional 1:6 to 1:8; SSI 1: 100Conventional 1:6 to 1:8; SSI 1: 100

• WaterWater essentiallyessentially confinedconfined toto thethe rootroot zone zone -- SalinitySalinity build-up reducedbuild-up reduced

• Healthy growthHealthy growth fromfrom thethe beginningbeginning - -

PestPest andand diseasedisease incidenceincidence lowerlower

• Intercropping is possible –Intercropping is possible –

Additional/interim income for the farmerAdditional/interim income for the farmer

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SSI: Potential and Market SizeSSI: Potential and Market Size

• $1-1.5 billion in India alone$1-1.5 billion in India alone• SSI will re-define sugarcane cultivationSSI will re-define sugarcane cultivation• Once farms switch to SSI, it is difficult to go Once farms switch to SSI, it is difficult to go

back because of economic advantageback because of economic advantage• Other benefits – social, ecological and Other benefits – social, ecological and

economic – need to be studied and economic – need to be studied and communicatedcommunicated

• Integration and development of appropriate Integration and development of appropriate equipment still not completeequipment still not complete

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Business opportunity in Maharastra…Business opportunity in Maharastra…

Total Sugarcane Area: 0.96 Million HaTotal Sugarcane Area: 0.96 Million HaTotal Sugar Factories Operated: 170Total Sugar Factories Operated: 170Sugarcane Growing Districts: 26Sugarcane Growing Districts: 26

Source: Aug 2012, Commissionerate of Sugar, Maharashtra State, Pune

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Maharashtra

10% of the area.. 100,000 ha/ y..

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SSI: Challenges for V.2SSI: Challenges for V.2

• Extending bud life:Extending bud life:• Establishing optimal bud sizeEstablishing optimal bud size• Improve germinationImprove germination• Storage protocolsStorage protocols• Standardization of growth Standardization of growth

medium and of micro-medium and of micro-nutrientsnutrients

• Nursery protocol for optimal Nursery protocol for optimal resultsresults

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SSI: Future DirectionSSI: Future Direction

• Reaching at least 100,000 farmersReaching at least 100,000 farmers

• Improving the process, V2.0Improving the process, V2.0

• Quantification of water saving, yields, Quantification of water saving, yields, labour, and other benefits to farmers, labour, and other benefits to farmers, ecosystems and societyecosystems and society

• Integration of appropriate machines in Integration of appropriate machines in planting & weedingplanting & weeding

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The business world is very curious..The business world is very curious..

• THE PERFECT HARVESTTHE PERFECT HARVESTOutlook BusinessOutlook Business | Sept. 1, 2012 | Sept. 1, 2012

• CANE DONE RIGHTCANE DONE RIGHTEntrepreneurEntrepreneur | Nov. 2012 | Vol. 4 | Issue | Nov. 2012 | Vol. 4 | Issue 33

http://www.agsri.com/news_events.html

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Thank YouThank You