2. Brief history
The discovery of sugarcane, from which sugar as it is
known today, is derived dates back unknown
thousands of years. It is thought to have originated in
New Guinea, and was spread along routes to
Southeast Asia and India. The process known for
creating sugar, by pressing out the juice and then
boiling it into crystals, was developed in India around
500 BC.
3. Global scenario
Sugarcane is cultivated in 20.5 million ha in 121 countries
15 countries such as Brazil, India, Pakistan , Mexico, Cuba,
Australia ,Argentina occupy 86% of the area with 87% of
production.
Brazil (22%) is the major producer followed by India (15%)
and EU (11%).
Brazil, India, and the EU control over 48% of the global
sugar production.
India is the largest consumer of sugar in the world.
4. Indian sugar industry- An overview
India is the second largest producer of sugar cane after
Brazil.
On the domestic front , Indian sugar industry has a turnover
of Rs.700 billion per annum(US $ 14.6 billion)
There are 553 installed sugar mills in the country with a
production capacity of 180 lakh MT of sugar.
These mills re located in 18 states of the country with a
production capacity of 180 lakh MT sugar
These mills are located in 18 states of the country, with
Maharashtra contributing over one-third of it.
5. About 60% of this mills are in the corporative sector, 35% of total are in
the private sector and rest in the public sector.
Until the id 50’s the sugar industry was almost wholly confined to the state
of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After late fifties or over sixties the industry
dispersed into South India, Western India and other part of North India.
Almost 75% of the sugar available in the open market is consumed by bulk
consumers like bakers, candy makers sweet makers and soft drink
manufactures.
The crushing season in the country is starts from October and reaches in
the peak in January before finally ending in the March or April of the next
year.
Mr Samir S Somaiya is the current president of Indian sugar mills
association and MD of Godavari sugar mills ltd.
6. Problems of Indian sugar industry
Low yield of sugarcane
Short crushing season
Fluctuating production
Low rate of recovery
High cost of production