For Prelims: Sucrose, Crop yield, Horticulture, Chhath
For Mains: Agriculture: Crop varieties and agricultural production; Art and Culture: Festivals and traditions of Bihar
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- The Sugarcane Research Centre at Pusa developed Rajendra Sugarcane-7.
- Rajendra Sugarcane-7 yields an average of 88 tonnes per hectare.
- The variety has approximately 17.6% sucrose.
- Sunlight gives the cane a purple-red colour.
- Long sugarcane with leaves is valued in the Chhath Kosi ritual.
The news
The Sugarcane Research Centre at Pusa has developed Rajendra Sugarcane-7, a variety specifically bred for the Chhath festival and horticulture, and it is now being sold in Bihar’s markets ahead of the festival in November 2026. The cane is straight, long and of medium thickness, and sunlight gives it an attractive purple-red colour that devotees prefer for the riverbank offerings.
According to agricultural scientists, the variety yields an average of 88 tonnes per hectare and has a sucrose content of about 17.6 per cent. Farmers in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Supaul and Vaishali are among those cultivating it. The variety was initially rejected by sugar mills but was later notified after government intervention, and mills now accept it, making it popular among growers. Local cultivation keeps the cane fresh for the festival, unlike cane that was earlier brought from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, which could dry out by the time of the offering. Higher seasonal prices benefit farmers, while worshippers get the cane at a lower price than cane from other states.
Rajendra Sugarcane-7 Chhath: why in the news?
Rajendra Sugarcane-7, developed by the Sugarcane Research Centre at Pusa, is being sold in Bihar’s Chhath markets in November 2026, meeting the festival’s demand for fresh, long sugarcane and offering better returns to local farmers.
Why was a local variety needed for Chhath?
Chhath creates seasonal demand for sugarcane in Bihar, both for offerings and for the Kosi ritual. Similar-looking cane previously arrived from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Earlier harvesting and transport could leave that cane drying by the time of the offering, creating an opportunity for a locally grown variety.
What are the benefits and challenges?
Rajendra Sugarcane-7 has an average yield of 88 tonnes per hectare and approximately 17.6% sucrose. Its appearance and freshness help meet festival preferences. Higher seasonal prices can improve farmers’ returns, while locally supplied cane is available to worshippers at a lower price than cane from other states. The variety’s earlier rejection by mills and subsequent notification illustrate the importance of market acceptance alongside crop development.
How is sugarcane used in Chhath rituals?
Sugarcane is offered during Chhath, including in cut pieces. For the Kosi ritual, long, sweet cane with leaves has particular significance. Four or five canes are also placed together on the ceremonial structure known as an elephant, contributing to high festival-season demand.
Bihar connection
Rajendra Sugarcane-7 Chhath: facts and terms for exams
- Sucrose:
- Sucrose is a sugar present in sugarcane juice.
- Crop yield:
- Crop yield is the quantity of produce obtained per unit of cultivated area.
- Horticulture:
- Horticulture is the cultivation of garden crops, including fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants.
- Chhath:
- Chhath is a festival associated with worship of the Sun and offerings made by devotees.
Rajendra Sugarcane-7 Chhath: why it matters for exams
Exams: BPSC, BSSC
Syllabus: Agriculture: Crop varieties and agricultural production; Art and Culture: Festivals and traditions of Bihar
Common mistake: Examiners may swap yield and sucrose figures: 88 tonnes per hectare is the average yield, while approximately 17.6% is the sucrose content.
Mains question on Rajendra Sugarcane-7 Chhath
Discuss the role of agricultural research in meeting seasonal cultural demand, with reference to the development of Rajendra Sugarcane-7 for Chhath in Bihar.
Stuck? Get it in one tap
Rajendra Sugarcane-7 is a variety developed at Pusa for uses including Chhath. It is long, sweet and becomes purple-red in sunlight. Growing it locally helps worshippers obtain fresh sugarcane and can give farmers better seasonal prices.
- Agriculture: Crop varieties and agricultural production
- Art and Culture: Festivals and traditions of Bihar
Related concepts: Sucrose, Crop yield, Horticulture, Chhath
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Hard
Consider the following statements about Rajendra Sugarcane-7:
- 1.It was developed with Chhath and horticulture in mind.
- 2.Its average yield is approximately 17.6 tonnes per hectare.
- 3.Its colour becomes purple-red when exposed to sunlight.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct: the variety was developed for Chhath and horticulture, and sunlight changes its colour. Statement 2 confuses its approximately 17.6% sucrose content with its average yield of 88 tonnes per hectare.
- Q2Medium
What is the average yield of Bihar’s Rajendra Sugarcane-7 variety?
Explanation: Rajendra Sugarcane-7 has an average yield of 88 tonnes per hectare. The other figures are not its stated average yield.
- Q3Medium
Why can locally cultivated Rajendra Sugarcane-7 be advantageous for Chhath worshippers in Bihar?
Explanation: Local harvesting helps keep the cane fresh, and locally grown cane is available at a lower price than cane from other states. Harvesting is still necessary, festival demand can raise prices, and sugarcane remains important to the Kosi ritual.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who developed Rajendra Sugarcane-7?
The Sugarcane Research Centre at Pusa developed the variety with Chhath and horticulture in mind.
2. What is the sucrose content of Rajendra Sugarcane-7?
Its sucrose content is approximately 17.6%.
3. Why is Rajendra Sugarcane-7 suitable for Chhath?
The cane is long and straight, has sweet juice and develops a purple-red colour in sunlight. Local cultivation also helps supply fresh cane.
4. Which Bihar districts cultivate Rajendra Sugarcane-7?
Farmers in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Supaul and Vaishali are among those cultivating the variety.
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- Original14 November 2026 · Read story
