Guwahati, June 11: In a major stride toward revolutionizing sugarcane cultivation in Assam, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune—one of India’s most respected institutions in sugarcane research and development. The agreement aims to drive innovation, sustainability, and productivity in sugarcane farming through advanced research, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer.
The MoU was formalized during a high-level meeting held at AAU, Jorhat, bringing together senior scientists and officials from both institutions. Representing AAU were Dr. Sanjay Kr. Chetia, Director of Research (Agri); Dr. Mrinal Saikia, Associate Director of Research; Dr. Niloy Borah, Principal Scientist; and Dr. Milon Jyoti Konwar, Scientist. The team from AAU’s Sugarcane, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station (SMAPRS), Buralikson, was led by Chief Scientist Dr. T. P. Saikia and included plant breeding and plant pathology experts Dr. Tridib Kr. Borbora and Dr. Jutimala Phookan.
The visiting VSI delegation featured Director General Sambhaji Kadu Patil, Principal Scientist Dr. A. G. Kadlag, and Senior Scientist Dr. Kapil V. Sushir—bringing with them decades of expertise in sugarcane biotechnology, agronomy, and sustainable farming systems.
The meeting opened with Dr. Saikia outlining the collaboration’s vision to transform Assam’s sugarcane landscape through research-backed, tech-enabled approaches. In his keynote, Dr Chetia set the tone for the partnership, calling it a strategic alliance with long-term benefits for Assam’s agri-economy.
VSI’s Patil emphasized the role of modern tools like artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing sugarcane productivity. He discussed how AI can be deployed to optimize fertilizer application, irrigation scheduling, and pesticide usage while determining the ideal harvesting window based on sucrose content—boosting both yield and quality.
Dr. Kadlag gave an overview of VSI’s pioneering work and reinforced the potential for collaborative trials and adaptive research suited to Assam’s agro-climatic conditions. Dr. Saikia of AAU added further depth by highlighting the untapped potential of sugarcane by-products such as bagasse, molasses, and press mud, which could create new income streams for farmers through bioenergy, organic inputs, and value-added products.
The event concluded with a formal signing of the MoU and a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Phookan, underscoring the shared commitment to innovation and farmer-centric development.
This partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities for Assam’s sugarcane growers by integrating scientific expertise, cutting-edge technology, and regional knowledge. It marks a critical step toward making sugarcane a profitable and sustainable crop in the region.
