Annual Report 2017-18

Abstract

Sugar production in India during 2017-18 season is expected to be all time record of about 32 million tonnes.Varieties play a major role (-70% contribution) in sugarcane production, productivity and sugar recovery. During the season, Co-varieties (evolved by the Institute) alone covered about 57.4% in tropical region and 59.9% in sub-tropical region of the total area under sugarcane in the country. Co 0238 and Co 86032 continued to be the predominant varieties with about 50.4% and 47.6% area coverage in sub-tropical and tropical regions, respectively. The wonder variety Co 0238 has reversed the trend of sugarcane and sugar production in the country with higher contribution of the sub-tropical region (58% and 56%) than the tropical region (42% and 44%) during 2016-17. The main factor responsible for this trend is adoption of Co 0238, which occupied 14.75 lakh ha or 50.4% of the cane area in subtropical states. The variety was recommended in Uttar Pradesh during 2012 and since then it has increased to over 12.08 Jakh hectares (52.6%) area during 2017-18. During the last five seasons, average cane yield and sugar recovery in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 79.2 t/ ha and 10.85% from 61.6 t/ha and 9.18%, respectively during 2012-13. For the first time in the history of sugar industry in sub-tropical India, ?.12% average sugar recovery by six sugar mills and ?.11 % average sugar recovery by 41 sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh were recorded during 2017-18 season.