A team of scientists from the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sugarcane, led by Susheel Solomon, Chairman of the National Level Review Team, conducted a two-day visit to the Agricultural Research Station (Kerala Agricultural University) in Thiruvalla on September 23 and 24.
During their visit, the team reviewed five years of research and development activities at the station and assessed recent advancements in sugarcane cultivation. Noting a shortage of raw material to meet the growing demand for organic jaggery, they stressed the need to expand sugarcane cultivation in the State and develop climate-resilient varieties.
The team also recommended leveraging the station’s flood-prone conditions to screen sugarcane varieties for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses such as red rot disease and waterlogging by deploying artificial intelligence.
Briefing the delegation, R. Gladis, Head of the station, highlighted the role played by the ARS in developing India’s first GI-tagged jaggery, locally known as ‘pathiyan sharkara’. The team further suggested adding value to the product by blending pathiyan sharkara with medicinal herbs and spices to enhance its market appeal.
