With the monsoon almost here, this is the make-or-break window for sugarcane farmers to get their fields ready for rough weather. According to Deoghar agriculture expert Ambika Kushwaha, finishing a few key tasks before the rains begin can turn the same monsoon that flattens a crop into a season that actually works in the farmer's favour.
The problem is simple. During the rains the soil in the field turns soft, and this is exactly when sugarcane plants shoot up in height. When strong winds blow or rain falls without a break, these tall, poorly supported plants tend to fall flat on the ground.
Earthing up comes first
Kushwaha says the most urgent job right now is to earth up the soil around the plants. Once sugarcane lies down on the ground, its growth stalls and production takes a direct hit. Banking soil around the base gives the plants firm support, makes the roots deeper and stronger, and helps them stay upright even in bad weather.
Apply organic manure before earthing up
The expert points out that adding organic manure to the field just before earthing up delivers a double benefit. Well-rotted cow dung manure is the best choice here, as it boosts the soil's fertility and supplies the plants with the nutrients they need in a natural way.
If cow dung manure is not available, farmers can fall back on other organic manure options. This improves root development, keeps the crop healthier and preserves soil quality over the long term, a benefit that extends not just to this crop but to future ones as well.
Drainage cannot be ignored
The biggest headache in the monsoon is standing water. Continuous rain often leaves water pooled in the field, and prolonged waterlogging in a sugarcane crop starts rotting the roots. That is also when the risk of various diseases spreading goes up sharply.
For this reason, farmers are being advised to dig channels and set up a solid drainage system in their fields right away. Water should not be allowed to collect anywhere in the field, because good drainage is what keeps the crop safe and lets the plants grow well.
Timely preparation is the key to profit
Agriculture experts are clear that if tasks like earthing up, applying organic manure and arranging drainage are completed before the rains start, the monsoon stops being a threat and becomes a source of gain for farmers.
These steps strengthen the crop, keep the plants from toppling and push up yields. The advice to sugarcane growers, therefore, is to read the weather and finish preparing their fields now, so that the crop stays protected through the monsoon and brings both a better harvest and higher income.
