Aarti Savale Shweta Mhatre Ashwini Salunkhe Savita Pandey Rahul Mohite

02 18 10 14 06

TOPIC :

SUGARCANE INDUSTRIES

Sugarcane, is one of the thirty-seven species of tall perennial grasses. Native to warm temperate to tropical regions of Asia . Brazil produces about one-third of the world's Sugarcane

Sugar cane is grown in over 110 countries with an estimated total production of 1,591 million metric tons. In 2005, the world's largest producer of sugar cane was Brazil, followed by India Sugar cane products include table sugar, molasses, rum ,ethanol,etc.

The bagasse that remains after sugar cane crushing may be burnt to provide heat and electricity. Because of its high cellulose content, It may also serve as a raw material for paper, cardboard, and eating utensils that may be branded as "environmentally friendly."

Sugarcane is indigenous to tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia . Crystallized sugar was reported 5,000 years ago in India. Around the eighth century A.D., Arabs introduced sugar to the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain.

By the tenth century, sources state, there was no village in Mesopotamia that did not grow sugar cane. It was among the early crops brought to the Americas by the Spaniards (from their fields in the Canary Islands), and the Portuguese. Boiling houses in the 17th -19th centuries converted sugarcane juice into raw sugar.

These houses were attached to sugar plantations in the western colonies . Slaves often ran the boiling process, under very poor conditions. Made of cut stone, rectangular boxes of brick or stone served as furnaces with an opening at the bottom to stoke the fire and remove ashes.

Columbus first brought it during his second voyage to the America. Sugarcane is still extensively grown in the Caribbean. In India, sugarcane is sold as jaggery. Refined into sugar, primarily for consumption in tea and sweets, and for the production of alcoholic beverages.

Top ten sugarcane producers 11 June 2008 Country

Brazil India

Production (Tonnes)
514,079,729 355,520,000

People's Republic of China 106,316,000

Thailand
Pakistan Mexico Colombia Australia United States Philippines

64,365,682
54,752,000 50,680,000 40,000,000 36,000,000 27,750,600 25,300,000

Sugarcane production after independence been increasing at a rate which favourably matched with the growth rate of the population. However, during the decade ending 1989-90, its production has slowed down to about one per cent a year, on an average, against the population growth of 3 per cent per annum. per capita production of sugarcane has been going down by about 2 per cent a year during this period.

The demand for white sugar has increased which has lead the fast expansion of the sugar industry. Consequently sugarcane has been going to the mills for white sugar manufacturing thus leaving lesser quantities for the production of other sweeteners.

If the consumption of the sweeteners is to be kept at the present level, the country would need to import sweeteners at an increasing rate. Domestic sugar production being inadequate to meet the demand, the Government had to import to meet the national requirements.

The lack of capital is the biggest hurdle for small farmers . Even if the Bank credit is available to them, obdurate officers make it harder for small farmers to get credit. Lack of land reform, non-availability of farm credit, lack of irrigation facilities and weird condition of sugar factories .

The factories that were built in late 1920's and 1930 are still in operation as the monument of antiquated technology. The present state of the sugar cane industry is so outmoded that, without revamping, it would only perpetuate inefficiency and obsolesce.

Govt should initiate steps to improve condition of farmers. attract modern industrial houses with new incentive to enter the establishment. New machineries and added values would make the industry efficient and productive.

solve the plight of farmers and stop them from burning their own livelihood in protest.

AS the sugarcane season for 2002-03 commences, the southern industry is faced with several challenges. low prices, monsoon failure causing a drop in cane availability and affecting sugar recoveries. With nine months stock available, the industry is facing the start of a season that is likely to witness a glut situation.

The initial estimates indicate a 10 per cent decline in sugar production due to the drought. The southwest monsoon failed, irrigation was unavailable, and six per cent of the sugarcane crop has perished in the State. Small-scale farmers have been encouraged to form cooperatives.

"There is investment going on. One of the mills has actually put in a lot of money to expand its production capacity so it takes cane grown in the Lower Usuthu Irrigation Scheme"