Shivraj Chouhan Highlights Sugarcane Cutter Planter Tech in Lucknow
Synopsis
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan showcased a Sugarcane Cutter Planter in Lucknow under his #KhetBachaoAbhiyan campaign, highlighting how the machine combines sowing and input application in one pass to save farmers time and labour.
Key Takeaways
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan shared a video from Lucknow on November 3, 2026 demonstrating a Sugarcane Cutter Planter.
The machine cuts sugarcane into small setts, sows them, and applies fertilisers and pesticides in a single pass , reducing multi-step manual labour.
The post was made under the #KhetBachaoAbhiyan campaign, which promotes modern farming practices across India.
The Centre's Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (launched 2014–15 ) supports such equipment via subsidies and Custom Hiring Centres.
Uttar Pradesh is India's largest sugarcane-producing state, making mechanisation gains there especially impactful for the farm sector.
One machine, one pass — and a sugarcane farmer in Lucknow saves both time and sweat. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, shared a video from Lucknow showcasing a Sugarcane Cutter Planter — a machine that cuts sugarcane into small pieces, sows them, and applies fertilisers and pesticides in a single operation, dramatically cutting labour for growers.
Posting under the hashtag #KhetBachaoAbhiyan, the minister wrote: 'लखनऊ में खेती की आधुनिक तकनीक का एक अच्छा उदाहरण देखने को मिला' — 'A good example of modern farming technology was seen in Lucknow.' He noted that the cutter planter performs sowing and the application of fertilisers and medicines simultaneously, saving farmers both time and effort.
What the Sugarcane Cutter Planter actually does
Traditional sugarcane planting is backbreaking, multi-step work: stalks must be manually cut into setts, placed in furrows, and then inputs applied separately. The Sugarcane Cutter Planter collapses these steps into one mechanised pass — cutting, placing, and dosing in a continuous operation. For Uttar Pradesh, which grows more sugarcane than any other Indian state, even a modest reduction in per-acre labour costs translates into significant savings across millions of smallholder plots.
#KhetBachaoAbhiyan and the push for single-pass machinery
The minister's post is part of his running #KhetBachaoAbhiyan (Farm Protection Campaign), a social-media series spotlighting modern practices and technologies for Indian farmers. The campaign reflects a broader federal priority: addressing the rural labour shortage that has made labour-intensive crops like sugarcane increasingly expensive to grow. The Centre's Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization, operational since 2014–15, has channelled subsidies through Custom Hiring Centres to put exactly this kind of equipment within reach of farmers who cannot afford to buy it outright.
Sugarcane mechanisation has lagged behind crops like wheat and paddy, where combine harvesters are now routine. Single-pass planting equipment is one of the key gaps the mission targets — and demonstrations like the one in Lucknow serve as on-the-ground proof-of-concept for wary smallholders.
Point of View
Where progress has trailed cereals. By amplifying it through #KhetBachaoAbhiyan, Chouhan signals that farm mechanisation — not just price support — is increasingly central to the BJP's agrarian messaging ahead of state elections in sugarcane-heavy belts. The single-pass framing is politically smart: it speaks to the pain point of rising farm-labour costs without requiring a subsidy hike announcement. Whether awareness translates into measurable adoption will depend on whether Custom Hiring Centres in UP are adequately stocked with the equipment.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sugarcane Cutter Planter?
A Sugarcane Cutter Planter is a farm machine that cuts sugarcane stalks into small setts and simultaneously sows them in furrows while applying fertilisers and pesticides — completing in one pass what traditionally requires multiple manual operations.
What is #KhetBachaoAbhiyan?
#KhetBachaoAbhiyan, meaning 'Farm Protection Campaign', is a social-media initiative by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to highlight modern farming techniques, crop protection practices, and mechanisation solutions for Indian farmers.
What government scheme supports sugarcane machinery in India?
The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization, operational since 2014–15 under the Union Agriculture Ministry, provides subsidies and supports Custom Hiring Centres that give farmers access to labour-saving machinery including sugarcane planting equipment.
Why is sugarcane mechanisation important in Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh is India's largest sugarcane-producing state. Rising rural labour costs and shortages make manual multi-step planting expensive; single-pass machines can significantly cut per-acre costs and improve productivity for millions of smallholder growers.
Who is Shivraj Singh Chouhan?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, a senior BJP leader, and a former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
