Collection of Germplasm
As a part of variety development program, exchange of germplasm from various research institutes is done. These institutes are Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Faisalabad, Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI), Mardan, Dewan Farooq Sugarcane Research Institute (DFSRI), Thatha, National Agriculture Research Council, Sub-station Thatha, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam and Qaid-e-Awam Research Institute, Larkana. These research institutes are coordinated to conduct National Uniform Varietal Yield Trials (NUVYT) by National Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Islamabad.
Sugarcane Agronomy
It is operated to provide technical guidance on production technology, biometric traits of varieties, judicious use of fertilizer and irrigation water to the cane growers and farm division of Shakarganj. It helps to enhance yield and quality of cane crop of cane growers. The agronomic trials conducted were on multifarious aspects, which comprised national uniform varietal yield trial, seed rate studies, row spacing, fertilizer application and irrigation coefficients and post-harvest losses.
Sugarcane Pathology
Screening of sugarcane clones/varieties against disease like red rot, rust, pokkah boeng and smut is done at different selection stages. Observations on these diseases were recorded during the month of March to May in different intervals in natural and with artificial inoculation. In case, of red rot disease artificial inoculation of axenic culture was done at grand growth phase of the crop during the month of July.
Shakarganj Organic Fertilizer (compost)
Shakarganj Organic Fertilizer (SOF) Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute through research and experiments has identified the reason for the low production of sugarcane is the lack of nutrients in the land. The main reason is the lack of organic matter. Due to the high temperature here and organic matter is not being added to the soil every year; it has reduced to 0.40%. The plant can take less of the chemical fertilizers we add, the rest is wasted due to which the desired production cannot be achieved.
SOF is 100 % organic based, slow-release nutrition for root building. It is multipurpose plant food and enhances the plant growth. It helps improve soil structure. Most importantly it is economical source for plant lovers, looking forward to sustain productivity and profitability. Because of this, 15-20% increase in crop production per acre has been recorded.
Library
The library of the institute was established in 1990. The lab is computerized with Devi decimal classification having on line asses for the readers. Addition of new books, manuals, proceedings, research journals and audio-visual aids touched the figure of 6,205 at the library of SSRI. Most of the departments at Shakarganj have on line access to the library.