Issues faced by the sugar industry, including mounting arrears to cane-growers, proper use of technology, investment in farming, came into sharp focus at the inaugural of the two-day 44th annual convention of the South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists’ Association here on Friday.
Many industrialists wanted rationalisation of sugarcane pricing and encouragement of use of by-products, particularly ethanol, to help the industry which is passing through a difficult phase.
Association president R.V. Vatnal expressed concern over the exponential increase in the price of sugarcane and its impact on the viability of the mills, with some falling sick. The cost of cultivation should be cut, productivity increased to make cultivation remunerative and operation of mills made sustainable by policy changes, he said.
KCP Sugar and Industries Corporation Limited Chairman Vinod R Sethi stressed the importance of mechanising intelligently and said productivity was at the heart of the problem.
Farm handsJoint Managing Director of Andhra Sugars Ltd M. Narendranath in his keynote address pointed out the sharp decline in farm hands and made a presentation on machinery imported from Australia and how it was adopted. Local mechanics should be in a position to address the machinery problems.
CMD of Shri Prabhulingheswar Sugars and Chemicals Ltd Jagadeesh Gudagunti wanted the government to arrive at a formula for cane price fixation on revenue-sharing basis as recommended by the C. Rangarajan Committee. Cane price should be determined at 70 per cent of actual revenue realisation by sale of sugar, molasses, 25 per cent bagasse and press mud or 75 per cent by sale of sugar alone, he urged. Maharashtra and Karnataka are presently doing it. NCS Sugars MD N. Nageswara Rao stressed the need for use of multiple technologies. He said the group would support immediate research.
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor A. Padma Raju stressed the need for reducing acreage, increasing productivity, and farmers adopting group and system approach for effective use of technology for sustainable farming.
He quoted the example of Maharashtra which had successfully adopted such methods.
Director of National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, Narendranath, Sugar expert P. Rama Babu, SISSTA, Andhra Pradesh President and convener of the convention N. Prabhakar spoke.
Sugar expo was inaugurated on the occasion.
