Uttar Pradesh: Seed cane sweet business for over 58,000 women

BIJNOR: Seed cane nursery and its distribution is bringing about socio-economic upliftment to over 58,000 women, associated with 3,004 women self-help groups in Uttar Pradesh.
These women have earned nearly Rs 24 crore in the last three months by developing disease-resistant sugarcane seeds, according to data of state’s sugar industry and cane development department.The seeds were developed through the single bud and tissue culture method, which are being extensively used in sugarcane farms across the state.
During the difficult Covid times, these women were imparted training to develop the seed under the UP Employment Mission scheme. UP, being the country’s biggest sugarcane growing and producing state, has over 27 lakh hectares under cane cultivation. Bijnor stands second after Lakhimpur Kheri in terms of sugarcane area. In Bijnor, as per the data, around 2,000 women make Rs 300 per day by selling these seed cane to the farmers. The women were trained to develop seed cane through a rural women programme.
Over 2000 women are preparing disease-resistant seeds: Bijnor cane officer
Additional cane commissioner of Uttar Pradesh, VK Shukla, told TOI, "Over 58,000 women earned Rs 24 crore in the state in the past three months. In 2021, they had sold sugarcane plants to farmers amounting to Rs 10 crore."
"Seed cane distribution through rural women programme is transforming the socio-economic conditions in the state. This sector is full of opportunities for women too. Our aim is to empower women and increase cane yields," he added.
Meanwhile, Bijnor district cane officer Yashpal Singh told TOI, "Over two thousand women are preparing disease-resistant seeds through tissue culture and single bud methods in Bijnor. Government provides a subsidy of Rs 1.30 on each cane plant to the groups, which they sell to the farmers."
"This seed is in the form of plants. It can be used for gap filling in the fields. Most farmers are using it in late sowing as it grows fast. It has increased the sugarcane yield by over 30 to 50%," Singh added.
30-year-old Swati Devi, who runs Rani Lakshmi Bai women self-help group in Nainsiwala village under Dhampur sugar mill area, told TOI, "During the tough phase of Covid, my husband introduced me to a government run scheme for rural women. I contacted over 30 women in my village and formed a group."
"We started preparing seeds in 2021. Soon, farmers started buying plants from us. Women are able to earn at least Rs 200 per day now. The nursery can be prepared in a small chunk of land," he added.