Sugarcane Farming Reimagined with Ratoon Management
Sadashiv Darekar – Rajuri Village, Rahata Block, Maharashtra
A farmer with a vision, Mr. Sadashiv Darekar has redefined sugarcane farming in his village. With five acres of land and a goal to reduce input costs while maintaining yields, Sadashiv turned to Ratoon Management—a climate-smart practice supported under the EDF-SFI initiative.
Faced with high replanting expenses and declining returns, Sadashiv adopted the Ratoon Manager technique and received hands-on guidance through the AE network. The results were transformative:
- Cost Efficiency: Cultivation cost dropped from ₹55,000 to ₹48,000 per acre—a 13% reduction.
- Higher Yields: Productivity jumped from 35 to 42 quintals per acre—a 20% increase.
- Input Savings: Reduced fertilizer and pesticide use lowered input costs from ₹30,000 to ₹25,000 per acre.
- Soil Health Gains: Urea use was reduced by 45 kg, and pesticide sprays were cut by half.
Beyond numbers, Sadashiv implemented trash mulching, INM, and IPM practices, which further improved soil fertility and water retention. Today, he plans to scale up ratoon management across his entire farm and is an advocate for CSA practices among fellow farmers.
“Ratoon management has revolutionized my sugarcane farming. It has cut down costs on machinery, labor, and inputs while maintaining good productivity. I’m committed to expanding these practices for a more sustainable and profitable future.” – Sadashiv Darekar
