Pilibhit: A delegation led by Ashwini Srivastava, joint secretary (Sugar) in the Union department of food and public distribution, signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, in Nanning on Monday. The agreement was finalised during a four-day bilateral discussion session held in China.
Deepak Ballani, director general of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), told TOI that the collaboration marks a major step towards joint research, development, training and technology transfer aimed at improving sugarcane productivity and sustainability in India.
He said SRI–Nanning is an internationally recognised centre for sugarcane research and houses multiple key laboratories, including the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement and the Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement.
Under the MoU, ISMA and SRI (GXAAS) will work together on productivity enhancement, varietal development and solutions to major agronomic challenges. The partnership also covers knowledge dissemination, rapid seed multiplication techniques, preparation of disease-free planting material and modern agronomic interventions.
Ballani added that special focus would be placed on modern breeding tools such as molecular breeding, genomic selection and advanced biotechnology.
Strengthening research linkages between institutions, he said, would support long-term, sustainable growth of the sugarcane sector.
"The collaboration reflects a commitment to bringing global scientific expertise to India's sugarcane industry. SRI's work in breeding, biotechnology, crop production and protection — particularly on traits like yield, sucrose content, disease resistance and climate stress tolerance — will help India tackle key challenges in sugarcane cultivation," Ballani said.
