Parliament Question: Pests Control in Sugarcane

O.I.H GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2680 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04TH AUGUST, 2026 PESTS CONTROL IN SUGARCANE †2680. SHRI CHANDAN CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare/ कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the productivity of farmers is being adversely affected due to top borer, smut disease and other pests and diseases in various sugarcane-producing regions, including Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh;

(b) the names of the research, trials and projects undertaken for the prevention of various pests and diseases affecting the sugarcane crop, development of disease- resistant varieties during the last five years and modern control techniques, along with the major outcomes thereof;

(c) whether the Government is making any arrangements to provide timely scientific advisory, quality seeds, pest and disease management and financial assistance/compensation through crop insurance or other schemes to the affected farmers in case of crop damage; and

(d) the future action plan of the Government to permanently mitigate the losses caused by pests and diseases in sugarcane-producing regions, including Bijnor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): The production of Sugarcane has increased from 2158.10 Lakh Metric tonnes

(MT) during 2023-24 to 2296.99 Lakh MT during 2025-26 (3rd Advance Estimates) in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, the yield has increased from 81.34 MT/Ha during 2023 -2024 to 81.97 MT/Ha during 2025-26 in UP (Year-wise statement at (Annexure I).(b): The ICAR-Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ICAR-ISRI), Lucknow, is actively engaged in research, field trials and technology development for the prevention and management of major insect pests and diseases affecting sugarcane across the country. At present, the institute is executing 15 Institute funded research projects, 4 externally funded research projects and 9 contract research projects (details at Annexure II) covering various aspects of sugarcane insect pest and disease management including disease diagnosis, host resistance, integrated pest and disease management, biological control and climate-resilient crop protection strategies The Institute also promotes environmentally sustainable crop protection through the development and dissemination of biological control technologies. Timely application of the recommended bio-control agents in conjunction with other recommended crop management practices substantially reduces the incidence of insect pests and diseases, enhances crop health and productivity, minimizes dependence on chemical pesticides and contributes to environmentally sustainable sugarcane cultivation.

As informed by State Government, during the last five years, several sugarcane varieties have been released/adopted for the state of U.P. Among these, early-maturing sugarcane varieties such as CoSh-19231, CoSh-17451, CoSh-18231, CoLk-16202, CoLk-15466, and Co-15023, as well as mid and late-maturing sugarcane varieties including CoSh-16233, CoSh-15233, CoLk-16470, CoLk-15206, CoLk- 14204, and CoLk-15207 have been released/ adopted, and are being utilized by the farmers of the State for sugarcane cultivation.

(c): As informed by State Government, scientific advisories are issued in a timely manner by the State Government through the Sugarcane Development Department, U.P., and the Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane Research Council, Shahjahanpur.

Additionally, the availability of healthy and high-quality seeds to farmers is ensured through a three-tier seed production system. Under the direction and supervision of the Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane Research Council, Shahjahanpur, breeder seeds are produced at various research centres, institutions, and sugar mill farms. These seeds are distributed to various districts in accordance with the allocation orders of the Sugarcane Commissioner, U.P.ICAR-ISRI are regularly conducting field surveys and surveillance in farmers' fields as well as in the command areas of sugar mills to monitor the incidence and severity of insect pests and diseases in sugarcane. Bio-control agents are being distributed to farmers under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) programme to promote eco-friendly disease and pest management practices. Farmers are regularly advised on the timely and need-based application of recommended insecticides and fungicides for effective management of insect pests and diseases. In addition, technical training programmes, farmer awareness sessions, distribution of extension literature (leaflets and technical bulletins), scientific advisories, quality seed distribution programmes, and farmer–scientist interactions are being conducted on a regular basis. Information regarding various Government schemes related to agriculture is also disseminated to the farming community. These extension activities aim to enhance farmers' awareness, strengthen their knowledge of integrated pest and disease management, and improve the productivity and sustainability of sugarcane cultivation.

Further, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), through its Regional Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (RCIPMC) in Lucknow and three Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) at Gorakhpur, Agra and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, regularly conducts pest surveillance and disseminates Integrated Pest Management (IPM) knowledge through training programmes like Farmers Field Schools, Season Long Training Programme and Orientation Programme. A total of 35 surveys covering 4906 hectare of area, have been conducted in Uttar Pradesh including Bijnor for the period from September 2023 to March 2026 for sugarcane crop. Further, 105 advisories have been issued during September 2024 to March 2026 for management of pests and diseases in Sugarcane crop, and 26 number of training programs have been conducted for creating awareness for pests and diseases in Sugarcane crop in Western Uttar Pradesh including Bijnor, in which 517 farmers, State Department Officials and Agro-input Dealers were trained.The State of Uttar Pradesh has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme

(RWBCIS) since Kharif 2016. Notification of crop under the scheme is prerogative of the State Government. While Sugarcane is eligible for coverage under the Scheme, at present the Government of Uttar Pradesh has not notified sugarcane under PMFBY/RWBCIS.

(d): ICAR-ISRI is implementing and strengthening an integrated strategy for the sustainable management of insect pests and diseases in sugarcane. The future action plan includes continuous surveillance and early warning systems for the timely detection of emerging pest and disease outbreaks, development, evaluation and promotion of resistant and high-yielding sugarcane varieties, production and dissemination of quality disease free planting seed through seed multiplication programmes; promotion of Integrated Pest and Disease Management practices integrating cultural, biological, mechanical and need-based chemical control measures; large-scale production and field application of bio-control agents and other bio-inputs; strengthening of diagnostic and advisory services through digital platforms and field-based extension systems; organization of regular farmer training programmes, frontline demonstrations, and awareness campaigns; capacity building of extension personnel and sugar mill field staff; and promotion of climate-resilient crop management practices. These interventions are being implemented across the sugarcane-growing regions of the country, including Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, with the objective of minimizing crop losses, improving sugarcane productivity, enhancing farmers' income and ensuring sustainable sugarcane cultivation.

The State Government of Uttar Pradesh reported that currently, no severe impact of diseases or pests has been reported in any sugarcane-growing region in the state, including Bijnor.

Further, DA&FW is providing assistance to sugarcane crop under National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) since 2014-15. Under the scheme, thrust is being given on transfer of technology through demonstration and training.

The allocation made to Uttar Pradesh under NFSNM-Sugarcane during the last

three years is given below: (Rs. in Lakhs) Year Total Central Share State Share 2023-24 575.57 345.34 230.23 2024-25 575.50 345.30 230.20 2025-26 109.00 65.40 43.60Annexure-I Statement of Production and Yield of Sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh Production in Lakh Metric Tonnes Production 2023- 24 2024-25 2025-26

2158.10 2208.01 2296.99 # Data for 2025-26 is as per 3rd Advance Estimates Yield in Metric Tonnes/ Ha Yield 2023- 24 2024-25 2025-26

81.34 81.16 81.97Annexure II List of Research Projects running on different aspects of insect pests and diseases of sugarcane crop at ICAR-ISRI, Lucknow A) Institute Research Projects :

1. Survey and surveillance of insect pests and diseases of sugarcane in India

2. Evaluation/screening of sugarcane germplasm against red rot and smut

3. Management of Pokkah boeng disease of sugarcane

4. Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of wilt pathogen in sugarcane

5. Characterization of yellow leaf disease pathogens of sugarcane in sub-tropical India

6. Artificial intelligence-based detection of disease and insect-pests in sugarcane

7. Unveiling the sugarcane virome to enhance productivity in sub-tropical India

8. Mapping the virulence pattern & identifying virulence hot spots of sugarcane red rot pathogen in sub-tropical India

9. Integrated insect pests & disease management for subtropical sugarcane

10. Development and commercialization of bio-control agent-based bio-formulation for sustainable management of diseases of sugarcane crop

11. Dispersal, host location, kairomonal effect and recovery of bio-agents Trichogramma chilonis and Tetrastichus howardi

12. Utilization of entomopathogenic nematodes against white grubs infesting sugarcane

13. Bio-prospecting of entomopathogenic bacteria for management of white grubs infesting sugarcane

14. Diversity profiling and management strategies of bacteria associated with post- harvest sucrose bio-deterioration in sugarcane

15. Advancing sugarcane borer’s rearing and insecticidal impacts on pest and their bio-agents B) Externally Funded Research Projects :

1. Deployment of settling nurseries with mechanized priming of sugarcane setts technology through KVKs in network mode

2. Establishment of biological control laboratory for mass production of biological agents against sugarcane insect pests and diseases and dissemination of technology for enhanced cane and sugar productivity in Maharashtra

3. Network Project: Improving water use efficiency and economizing water use in sugarcane cultivation in India4. Development of a smartphone-based digital support system for the efficient monitoring of multiple diseases of sugarcane in India C) Contract Research Projects :

1. Bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of pre-and-post emergent application of Aclonife 500g/l+Diflufenican100g/l SC against complex weed flora in sugarcane and its effect on succeeding crop

2. Bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of GPH 1020 against complex weeds flora of sugarcane and its effect on succeeding crop

3. Bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of setts treatment product UPFI 116 against insect pests and diseases of sugarcane

4. Bio efficacy and Phytotoxicity evaluation of Tetranilipore 200 G/L SC

(VAYEGO) Early shoot borer and Top shoot borer infestation in sugarcane crop and its effects on natural enemies

5. Bio efficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of Acetamiprid 25% + Bifenithrin 25 % WG against insect pest of sugarcane and effect on natural enemies

6. Bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of GPH 3021 against complex weeds and flora of sugarcane and its effect on succeeding crop

7. Evaluation of Tetraniliprole 200G/L SC (VAYEGO) for the control of early shoot borer and top borer in sugarcane

8. Efficacy of FIN2203 against Top borer and Termites in Sugarcane

9. Efficacy of FIN2203 against Top borer and Termites in Sugarcane *****