Raipur: Chhattisgarh has launched its first joint research project to promote the cultivation of the LS-6 variety of white beet along with sugarcane, aiming to boost farm income and support ethanol production, according to a report by Pioneer.
The initiative is being implemented by the Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, and the National Sugar Institute. The study is being led by scientists Dr. Seema Paroha and Dr. Lokesh Babar, along with researchers Sumit Sarkar and Santosh Kumar Maitri.
Officials said the project will assess the use of white beet as a raw material for ethanol while also examining its economic benefits for farmers. The focus is on an intercropping method, where sugar beet is grown alongside sugarcane on the same land.
Since sugarcane is a long-duration crop, large portions of farmland remain unused during its early stages. The project seeks to utilise this period by introducing white beet, a short-term crop that matures in about six months, enabling farmers to earn additional income within the same season.
Experts said the model could improve land use, provide an alternative feedstock for ethanol production, and create new income opportunities for farmers.
The move is expected to strengthen Chhattisgarh’s position in the biofuel sector while promoting more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices.
