Varietal Transformation in Sugarcane: Economic Implications of CoM 265 in Maharashtra

Published by: Admin

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Authors: Pradipkumar Adhale and Vasant Pokharkar

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Abstract

This paper aims to estimate the economic impact of the sugarcane variety CoM 265 on the farm economy of Maharashtra.The study employed compound growth rates, Cuddy-Della Valle instability index, and Markov chain analysis to assess long-term trends, variability, and varietal shifts in sugarcane cultivation in Maharashtra. Partial budgeting and upscaling techniques were used to evaluate the economic impact of university-released sugarcane variety CoM 265. The expansion of the sugarcane area significantly contributed to increased sugarcane production. However, the productivity of sugarcane remained stagnant during the study period.The CoM 86032 was identified as Maharashtra’s most stable sugarcane variety, followed by CoM 265 and CoC 671. In 2007, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri released CoM 265, a promising sugarcane variety. By 2023-24, CoM 265 covered nearly 24.65per cent of the total sugarcane cultivation area and retained 77.80per cent of its previous year’s area. The total economic impact of the sugarcane variety CoM 265 on the farming community in Maharashtra over sixteen years was Rs. 2,223.09 Crore. The cultivation of sugarcane variety CoM 265 was profitable than the other varities. Therefore this study suggests that giverment may increase investments in sugarcane research to develop improved varieties.

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