ICAR-ISRI, Lucknow celebrates 75th Foundation Day

The 75th Foundation of ICAR-Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ISRI), Lucknow started with the ICAR song after which the ceremonial lighting of the lamp was performed. The Chief Guest, Prof. K. K. Singh, former Vice Chancellor SVPUAT, Meerut was the Chief Guest on this occasion, while Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow and Dr. T. Damodaran, Director ICAR-CISH, Lucknow were the Guests of Honour.

Prof. K. K. Singh lauded the Institute’s outstanding contributions, particularly the development of more than 50 high-performing sugarcane varieties that are climate-resilient, rich in sugar content, and well suited to stress-prone conditions. He emphasized that the Institute must intensify its efforts to address future challenges, including reducing carbon emissions from jaggery units; accelerating varietal replacement through the development of new and efficient varieties; formulating standard operating procedures (SOPs) to minimize water requirements; ensuring the availability of quality seed material; addressing soil degradation; reducing the cost of cultivation; enhancing mechanization; promoting digital agriculture; empowering youth through entrepreneurial development programmes; developing green technologies to meet national requirements for bioethanol and bioplastics; and fulfilling the long-standing demand for the development of a small-scale sugarcane harvester.

Dr. Dinesh Singh, Director, ICAR–Indian Sugarcane Research Institute, emphasized that ten sugarcane varieties were registered with the Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights and an identification proposal of sugarcane variety CoLk 19204 (IKSHU-18) (Mid-late) was submitted to the Varietal Identification Committee of AICRP(S) during 2025 for its release. He further stated that 10,150 quintals of seed cane and supplied more than 21 lakh single buds of newly released varieties (CoLk 16202 and CoLk 15466) through Cane Development Councils, in addition to about 6 lakh buds supplied directly to farmers through an online system. He also discussed the development of new machinery and advanced technologies at the Institute, along with its patents, copyrights, and collaborations with various organizations engaged in sugarcane and sugar beet research. In addition, he highlighted the Institute’s outreach programmes and breeder seed production activities.

On this occasion, the Guest of Honour, Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR–NBFGR, stated that sugarcane is the lifeline of farmers. He further noted that, in the future, the Institute should place greater focus on bioethanol and bioplastics to enhance its visibility and impact. Besides, the Guest of Honour, Dr. T. Damodaran, Director, ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture emphasized that the Institute must continue to work diligently on the development of farmers varieties to enable their adoption at a commercial scale. He also pointed out that sugarcane is a water-intensive crop and stressed the need to develop sensor-based irrigation systems to conserve water.

On this occasion, Dr. A. K. Shrivastava, Former Head, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Division, ICAR–Indian Sugarcane Research Institute, delivered the Foundation Day Lecture titled “Sugarcane: The Indian Heritage.”

During the event, technical bulletins and folders were released, and awards were presented to staff and farmers. Sports competitions and fun activities, including cricket, volleyball, football, tug of war, a sugarcane sucking competition, and a balloon race, were also organized. Year-long activities are planned under “Mithas ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

The overall programme is coordinated by Dr Anita Sawnani and vote of thanks given by Dr Manoj Kumar Srivastava, convenor of event.