ICAR-ISRI Lucknow and Zuari Industries Ink MoU for Sugarcane Excellence Program
24th April 2025, Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh: The ICAR–ISRI (Indian Sugarcane Research Institute), Lucknow, and Zuari Industries Pvt. Ltd. (ZIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative framework between ZIL and ICAR–ISRI for the implementation of a Cane Excellence Program at Gobind Sugar Mills, Aira, Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh. The program aims to enhance sugarcane productivity, sustainability, farmer engagement, and R&D integration for long-term strategic gains.
The MoU agreement was signed by Dr. R. Viswanathan, Director, ICAR–ISRI, Lucknow, and Mr. Alok Saxena, Executive Director & Unit Head, Zuari Industries Ltd., Gobind Sugar Mills, Aira. This MoU collaboration aims to improve cane development and agronomy excellence, development monitoring and evaluation of good sugarcane varieties suitable for waterlogging conditions, climate resilience and soil-water management, crop and pest and disease management, farmer extension and training programs, technology adoption, research & development, seed cane and nursery management, and sugarcane economic policy advocacy.
Mr. Alok Saxena, Executive Director & Unit Head, Zuari Industries Ltd., Gobind Sugar Mills, Aira, added, “Through this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering farmers with knowledge and tools that can significantly improve yield and income. Together with ICAR–ISRI, we envision building a more resilient, productive, and sustainable sugarcane ecosystem in the region.”
Dr. R. Viswanathan, Director, ICAR–ISRI, Lucknow, said, “This collaboration marks a step forward in science-backed sugarcane development. By aligning our research capabilities with industry needs, we aim to promote climate-resilient practices and help farmers access the most effective agronomic solutions tailored to local conditions.”
Under the MoU, ICAR–ISRI will provide technical know-how, best agronomic practices, R&D support in evaluating present varieties and developing new ones, nominate experts and scientists for training, joint activities and monitoring, share research findings and recommendations for location-specific adoption, and offer project-specific technical services or consultancy support on mutually agreed terms and cost structures. The institute will also facilitate exposure visits, cross-learning platforms, and dissemination of knowledge products such as technical manuals, videos, and mobile-based advisories. It will provide technical expertise for integrating digital advisory systems and decision-support tools into the Cane Excellence Program.
Mr. Athar Shahab, Managing Director, Zuari Industries Limited, said, “We believe this partnership is a part of a broader mandate, remaking industry and research institution collaborations to address actual world problems. The Cane Excellence Program speaks of our vision of innovative agriculture that is not only productive but also future-proofed, climate-resilient, and in line with our sustainable development goals.”
This partnership is expected to drive innovation in the adoption of production and protection technologies and sugarcane mechanization, support sustainable sugarcane cultivation, contribute to the overall welfare of the sugarcane farming community, and enhance the economic viability of the sugar mill in the long run.
Dr. L.S. Gangwar, Principal Scientist, I/c AKMU; Dr. M. Swapna, Principal Scientist, Crop Improvement Division from ICAR–ISRI, Lucknow; and Shri Ajeet Singh, Dr. Fawzia Tarannum, and Shri Aashutosh Agarwal from Zuari Industries Ltd. (Gobind Sugar Mills Unit), Aira, were also present on the occasion.
