Sugar technology in India : the need to modernise

摘要

The Indian sugar industry has grown rapidly in the past 60 years, but more through increasing numbers of factories than increasing their capacity. The industry has an urgent need to modernise if it is to be competitive. An impressive range of by products is made and energy balances have been improved, but the quality of much of the sugar produced is lower than demanded by many international users, and major technical and administrative problems remain. A wide range of technical equipment is alreadyavailable, both indigenously and from abroad, that could be deployed to improve the economics of sugar production and marketability in India. Such systems must be more rapidly evaluated and implemented where appropriate. Also, manpower levels must be reduced, where possible and the current unwiedly cane payment systems must be rationalised.