In a bid to enhance soil health and promote sustainable farming, the Agriculture Department, in collaboration with sugar factories, has launched a project to convert sugarcane waste into organic manure.
Sugarcane is cultivated on about 7.45 lakh hectares across the state. After harvest, farmers usually burn the leftover waste, which harms soil fertility, destroys microorganisms, and pollutes the environment. The new initiative encourages farmers to recycle this residue instead of burning it.
To begin with, 3,000 hectares of farmland in five districts have been selected for implementation. So far, 114 sugarcane farmers have been trained in composting methods to convert the waste into organic fertilizer.
The joint effort by the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments and local sugar factories aims to enrich soil fertility, boost crop yields, and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. Organic compost made from sugarcane residue also promotes microbial activity, conserves water, and lowers weed control costs.
Each year, pest attacks damage nearly 1.3 lakh acres of sugarcane crop in Karnataka. Recycling the waste into organic manure is expected to help reduce such losses and restore soil productivity. For Belagavi and Bagalkot districts, 2,000 hectares have been earmarked for the pilot phase. In Belagavi district alone, 1,300 hectares have been identified, and farmers from 114 villages have received training and equipment support. The project, implemented in partnership with sugar factories, has already trained hundreds of farmers across five districts.
