Economic importance of sugarcane
Sugarcane is our country’s and neighbouring nations’ primary source of sugar production. Sugarcane accounts for 60% of the world’s white crystal sugar, while sugarbeet accounts for 40%. Sugarcane is one of the good sources of nourishment for the local people in emerging tropical and subtropical nations of Asia, Africa, and America, where rations are low in protein. Sugar consumption per capita in the United States has exceeded 100 pounds (45 kilograms) per year since 1970.
Sugar accounts for one-seventh of the energy in the human diet. It is a cost-effective energy source.
Sugarcane chewing begins in Mangsir and extends all the way to Chaitra in Nepal. It is a highly useful food source in Jaundice.
Sugarcane stalks are chewed to satisfy hunger because juice contains sugars. Sugar consumption per capita in India is 14.kg per year.
In Nepal, it is roughly 6 kg per capita per year.
Bagasse and molasses are the primary by products of the sugarcane industry. Bagasse is mostly used for fuel, whereas molasses is utilised in distilleries to produce alcohol (ethyl, butyl). Bagasse ash is used as a fertiliser because it is high in P and K. The fibrous material left over after cane crossing is the primary source of power in sugar mills.
Bagasse waste is being utilised as a raw material in the paper industry.
Green top, which accounts for 25-30% of the cane weight, is utilised as livestock feed (fodder).
Ethanol is made from molasses and then blended with gasoline to create an excellent biofuel. Brazil generates 11.7 billion litres of ethanol each year, enough to power around 6.5 million automobiles.
Petrol is blended with 10% ethanol. A committee was constituted in 2061 to determine the price of ethanol. The producers requested 51 rupees per litre of ethanol while the price of one litre of petrol was Rs.67. The production of ethanol can save 40 crore rupees in foreign
currency and generate 12 crore rupees in revenue for the government. At a cost of 4 crore rupees, an ethanol plant is being built in Rauthat.
Radio (2061-12-10) In India, the sugarcane industry is the second largest agro-based industry after textiles. Sugar factories (mills) use 40-50 percent of the cane harvested. Jaggary and Khandsari industries utilise 50-55 percent of the total cane produced.
Sugarcane is critical to the Indian economy. Sugarcane is grown and relied on by around 35 million farmers for a living. A similar number of agricultural labourers make a living by working on sugarcane fields.The industry directly employs over 5 lakh workers. Sugar businesses pay more than Rs.1000 crore in excise duty taxes to the Central
Exchequer each year.
Currently, the sugar business is one of the most well-organized agro-based sectors in Nepal, with over 150000 farm households involved in sugarcane growing in recent years. It plays an important role in rural poverty alleviation by giving 6 to 8 months of seasonal labour to the weaker sections of society.
Sugar factories, which are located in rural regions, support a large number of economic activities in rural India. In addition to improving the economic conditions of sugarcane farmers and agricultural
labourers, they also assist others such as transport operators, agroservice agencies, input dealers, tiny businessmen, and banking institutions. The majority of the workers come from the nearby districts. As a result, the sugar cane mill creates rural jobs. Many sugarcane mills also encourage education and cooperative movements in their respective regions of operation.