The Union and State government should take steps for setting up clusters of farmers sugarcane societies for optimising profit to the producers.

These societies should utilise the latest farm technology for producing sugarcane and cane-allied services at their respective cluster, said the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Speaking after honouring bio farmers at a seminar-cum-exhibition on organic farming organised by ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Sozhanmadevi village near here on Friday, he said that zero-effluent sugar factories could be established with modern technology. With Ariyalur district accounting for a large area under sugarcane, he appealed to farmers to set up sugarcane societies which would not only produce sugar but also sugar-based products. Referring to the demand for ethanol, bio ethylene, molasses and other by-products of sugar industry, Mr. Kalam advised farmers to go in for sustainable sugarcane initiative (SSI) which doubled the yield in the cash crop.

In this context, he appealed to the Union and State governments to encourage sugarcane farmers set up societies in each and every cluster in the district.

Mr. Kalam said that ushering in a “water revolution” alone would provide a solution to the challenges faced in food production.

He said that every citizen should take up the responsibility of protecting water bodies, particularly the tanks and irrigation channels in their area. “Encroachments on the water bodies should be prevented at any cost,” he said.

Farmers should adopt an integrated approach such as protection of water bodies, production of agricultural produce through organic farming, better post harvest handling, and marketing their produce.

Mr. Kalam said that organic farming was the lasting solution in the present-day scenario.

V. Natanasabapathy, president of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ariyalur district, spoke on the achievements of the bio farmers of the district who have set up an exhibition of their produce.