Problem Description:
Sugarcane, an important cash crop of India, supports the livelihood of 35 million farmers, 15 million agricultural labourers, 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 and Interior Andhra Pradesh. Co 312, Co 419, Co 6304, Co 740 etc. were the prominent varieties which made sugarcane a major crop and sugar industry a major agroindustry in the region. Saline and drought regions in the states also faced problems in sugarcane cultivation. Also there was demand from farmers for varieties capable for multiratoonability. Flowering was another problem which decided choice of a right variety. All these kept varietal evolution directed to develop varieties suitable to all these situations. Solution Description:
Since the release of Co 6304 in 1970 and Co 740 (very suitable for Maharashtra) in 1949, there was stagnation in sugar recovery and sugarcane yield under varied agroclimatic conditions of Peninsular zone. Crossing of two high sucrose varieties as parents Co 62198 and CoC 671 and subsequent selection yielded Co 86032. Ever since the variety completed AICRP trials in 1994, the potential of the variety started reaching the beneficiaries as this variety was a near complete pack of several advantages as mentioned below.