Drip Irrigation for Sugarcane Production of over Three thousand hectares: Vitthal Sugar Factory works with Tanishka members.
Solapur : The efforts taken by Tanishka Members from Bhose (Tal : Pandharpur) since one year to promote drip irrigation for cultivation of Sugarcane in their village has turned out to be a huge success, thus saving millions of litres of water.
Different awareness drives created by the Sakal Media Group to solve the problem of water scarcity has influenced Tanishka members from Bhose to use drip irrigation instead of conventional flooding of fields for cultivating sugarcane. In addition to this, members sought help from Mr. Bharat Bhalke, MLA & Chairman of Vittal Cooperative Sugar Factory requesting him to reach out and urge farmers to use drip irrigation for production of Sugarcane. As a result of the appeal made by Mr. Bhalke, more than three thousand hectares of sugarcane fields now use drip irrigation and save millions of litres of water.
Bhalke said, “The initiative taken by the Tanishka members in this region to promote the use of drip irrigation has encouraged all the farmers to save water; and to promote their cause, the factory owners are now helping them out with their requirement of instant loans and assistance to set up necessary infrastructure.” He further added that, “Farmers irrigating their fields using water from reservoirs in the neighbourhood should also be encouraged to make use of drip irrigation.”
Tanishka group head Dr. Mrudula Talekar said, “Sugarcane production has gone from 50 tons per acre to 90 tons per acre after the implementation of drip irrigation.”

Tanishka member Reshma Mali, and her family make a living off their sugarcane farm. Last year due to a financial crisis faced by the family, they had no money to set up the drip irrigation system in their farm. She decided to take a loan against her jewellery for setting up the drip irrigation facility on their farm. This year their sugarcane production has almost doubled with more than 80 tons/acre; and the profit made has helped in clearing the loan as well as securing a better future for their family.

How much water was exactly saved?

“The amount of water required for conventional flooding an acre of sugarcane is equal to the actual consumption by a village of around 1200 households for almost a year. Moreover, the water required for an acre of sugarcane can be used to cultivate 8 acres of Jowar or Millet,” said Professor Satish Karande. This can predict how much amount of water was saved through the initiative taken up by Tanishka Foundation members in Bhose.