Warm Nov made sugarcane less sweet, prone to pests

WARMER winter has reduced the sweetness of jaggery and created a conducive weather for pest attacks on sugarcane plants in western Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest sugarcane producer belts in the country.

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY

According to the India Meteorological Department, November was the warmest month for Northwest India since 1901. The normal mean temperature is 18.77 °C which rose to 20.14 °C. Northwest India meteorological region, of which Western UP is a part, shows 80% deficient rainfall in November.

Generally, local manufacturing centres start processing jaggery from November. But warmer November led to higher water content and lesser formation of sucrose in sugarcane plants reduced its productivity, experts say.