Background:
Sugarcane, an important cash crop of India, supports the livelihood of 5 million farmers, 15 million agricultural laborers, five lakh skilled and semi-skilled workers. Sugarcane has enjoyed as a major crop in the tropical India especially in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, Telengana and interior Andhra Pradesh. Northern Karnataka and Maharashtra are the high productivity and high sugar recovery zone in the country and specific varietal requirements are needed for the region to realize high yield and sugar recovery. Though Co 86032 was a wonder variety for tropical India since 2000 AD, this variety was not well suited to the region. The sugar industries in North Karnataka were in need of high yielding and high quality varieties with drought tolerance, and with deep rooting nature and adopted varieties like COM 88121, Co 8371, C0 8014, and Co 8013, which did not fulfill the regional demand.:
Technology Details:
Identification of a suitable high yielding, sucrose rich variety with drought tolerance is the requirement for the high productive regions of Peninsular zone. Co 91010 was a variety suiting to the needs of the region with its tall erect. non lodging canes, deep root system and high yield and Page 1 of 3sucrose content under water deficit situations. These characters made this a suitable variety to the North Karnataka and have occupied large areas. This variety also showed its merit in Striga infected fields, making it an ideal variety for the region.:
The area under Co 91010 in selected sugar factories of North Karnataka