As the biggest fraternity of sugar industry professionals in the world with over 3,500 members, this Association has been promoting the growth and development of the sugar and allied industries since 1925. It is good that this Association which comprises agricultural scientists, technocrats, managers, entrepreneurs and technology providers gives priority for enriching the knowledge base in sugar industry.

Personally, I have a sincere interest in the welfare of this body. As most of you would know, I hail from a agricultural family in Erode, Tamil Nadu, where the members of my family cultivate sugarcane and supply it to the nearby sugar mills.I am glad to inform the august gathering that in 90’s my father was declared as a best cane grower by Sakthi Sugars, Erode District in Tamil Nadu. Recently, my second son and   daughter-in-law, who are looking after our agricultural lands also secured similar Award from the same factory. And, as Governor of the host State, let me personally welcome all participants numbering over one thousand to Kerala, God's Own Country. 

       As we all know, this Convention focuses on the recent trends in process improvements and technological innovations and offers opportunities for networking with industry leaders and policy makers, besides opening doors to overseas opportunities. This is very important, since the sugar industry is the second largest agro-based industry, next to cotton textiles and has about 50 million farmers and workers dependent on it. The unique feature of the industry is that nearly 35% of the sugar production is contributed by the Cooperative Sector where the farmers themselves are the factory owners. No wonder, our Sugar industry which contributes over 20% to the world sugar production, plays a vital role in our rural development.

       The significance of the sugar industry is to be seen in the light of its contribution of around Rs. 75,000 crore to the exchequer. It has the potential to contribute even more, but we should make efforts to realize this potential by improving the quality of the sugarcane produced, by ensuring higher yields and recoveries, along with increasing operating efficiencies at the mills. 

       Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water resources; industry and households come a distant second and third.  For the past few years, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka have witnessed one of the worst droughts in recent times. Kerala too, had one of the worst droughts this year. While ensuring adequate water supply is essential, we also need to find newer ways of conserving water resources. I am happy that Sugar Mills which were consuming water from natural resources to the tune of 20–30% on cane, have brought it down to negligible levels. We also need new techniques for sugar cane cultivation including use of hybrid and biotech seeds that are engineered to be more resistant to drought, salinity and attack of pests.

Since technology in the field as well as the factory is crucial for the sustainable development of the sugar industry, we need to focus on areas like Field Mechanization and Sugar Quality Improvement. Though   the Indian sugar industry has achieved over 10% Farm Mechanization and enabled many mills to produce refined sugar conforming to modern standards, a lot remains to be done.

As mentioned earlier, under the fact that I am a farmer by birth and cultivating sugarcane even now, I want to inform some more details on sugar industry and its products.  India is the second largest sugar industry in the world next to Brazil and India is the first in sugar consumption in the world.  An average of 5 million hectares of sugarcane is cultivated in India and nearly 6 million farmers are in sugarcane factory.  681 sugar factories have been installed in India, out of which nearly 100 sugar factories have been closed due to various reasons.  The average cane yield in our country is 65 metric tonne per hectare, ie., 26 metric tonne per acre, which is very low than other countries like Australia, South Africa etc.  Sugarcane is a major commercial crop among the farmers. Sugarcane crop is  “karpaka tharu”, which means the entire part of the crop having its commercial value.

Additional information are, one tonne of sugarcane crop gives:

a)95 to 100 kg of white sugar;

b)250 to 270 kg of bagasse;

c)  50 kg of molasses;

d)30 kg of press mud;

e)110 to 120 units of power;

f)   12 to 13 litres of industrial alcohol.

Bagasse consisting of 70% of fibre, which is used as new raw material for paper making and rest of 30% as pith used for fuel in co-generation boilers.  Molasses is the basic raw material for production of industrial alcohol.  One tonne of molasses gives 240 to260 litres of industrial alcohol.  Press mud is used for making bio-compost, which is a best organic source to enrich our soil.  The dried leaves of the sugarcane leftover at the time of cane harvest can be incorporated to the soil to enrich the soil health.  Hence the sugarcane crop, is known as “karpaka tharu”.

       Though the sugarcane crop has so many merits in it, the sugarcane industry is still facing so many obstacles for its steady growth due to many reasons like failure of monsoon, pressing policy and price of bio products in agriculture market.  I would like to insist upon this forum, not as a Chief Guest, not as a Governor of a State and not as a retired Chief Justice of our Nation, but one among as the sugarcane farmer, “that the cane yield places a vital role for the prosperity of both sugarcane farmers as well as the sugar industry.   The present cane yield of 65 metric tonne per hectare will not be remunerative to the sugarcane farmers as the cost of cultivation is rising up every year.  It is my strong opinion that the present yield level has to be at least doubled by way of transmitting proper scientific  technologies to the farmers so as to increase their yield and try to increase their net income.  I sincerely hope that this convention will pave way for the same”.

Energy conservation and co-generation are areas where the Sugar industry can contribute more. Out of total potential of 10,000 Mega Watts, the Indian Sugar Industry is presently supplying about 3,500 Mega Watts of surplus electric power to the national grid during the crushing season. We need to find ways to increase this through better generation and conservation technologies. The Sugar Industry must also tune its activities in accordance with the new national Capital Goods Policy, River rejuvenation projects,  etc. in such a way as  to increase the overall growth opportunities in the coming years.

       It would be unfair if I do not mention the   international exhibition organized as part of the Convention with 70 exhibitors presenting their latest technologies, processes and services. Such exhibitions can also open new opportunities for innovators who are willing to link their work to projects like Make in India, to introduce technologies that would improve productivity and efficiency both in the field and the factories.

Today, we have honored a good number of professionals for their outstanding work and lifetime achievements. I  congratulate all those Award winners and wish them greater energy to contribute more in their chosen fields of activity. At the same time,I would also request the Association to have a policy of encouraging and financing some Sugar-related Start-Up ventures in our Technical institutions. That will encourage youngsters to come up with new ideas that may help to improve efficiency in the industry. And, we may also think of awards for the best young innovators in the near future.

       I hope this Convention would actively discuss all these aspects and encourage our sugar technologists and scientists to explore the possibilities of increasing the productivity of cane sugar and sugar. I am certain that with a clear vision of the future scenario, a strong will and determined effort with consistent enthusiasm would certainly enable the industry to achieve these goals.

       I once again convey my best wishes to all the participants and wish this convention all success.

Thank You

Jai Hind