VISAKHAPATNAM: Over the next one decade, India, which is the second largest sugar producing country, is going to face new challenges due to lack of land, water and conducive atmosphere for sugar cane farming to increase productivity. Mechanisation and usage of latest technology can be an answer to these problems, felt speakers at the two-day 44th Annual Convention (2014) of South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association (SISSTA) held here Friday. The convention also focussed on the key issues to be addressed for making India the largest sugar producing country in the world.
Addressing the convention, KCP Sugar and Industries Corporation Limited chairman Vinod R Sethi said that the country has the most number of sugar manufacturing industries, but there is a need to focus on global competitiveness. He strongly felt that the introduction of machinery and increasing labour productivity can be an answer to improve production.
Various factors like cane loss, precautions and the changes needed to be implemented in the present scenario and the deficiencies in the sugar production companies were all brought before thousands of sugar technologists and manufacturers. Comparing the Indian machinery and tools with the ‘Australian Experience’ (farm tools used for sugar extraction and production) in his keynote address, Andhra Sugars Limited joint managing director M Narendranath suggested that sugar technologists should bring the Australian technologies to India for improving the sugar extraction and production apart from reducing cane loss. He also explained about different trends in sugar farm mechanisms and cane processing equipment.
The speakers at the convention pointed out that younger generations are not showing interest in farming and majority of them are moving abroad in the name of studies and job opportunities.
The SISSTA also decided to sponsor upcoming research initiatives in sugar cane production and sugar field. The convention was also followed by a discussion on a few studies that were conducted by the Association members in the previous years. SISSTA president RV Vatnal, NSL Sugars Limited chairman M Prabhakar Rao, Andhra Sugars Limited chairman and managing director BB Ramaiah and officials from other states took part in the convention.
A few stalls were put up to create awareness on the latest machinery available.