SPEECH AT THE 71ST ANNUAL CONVENTION OF SUGAR TECHNOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA AT HYDERABAD ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2012:
Mrs. Geeta Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Sugar, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Secretary, Department of Food and Public distribution, government of India, shri Sudhir Kumar, Dr. G.S.C. Rao, President, The Sugar Technologists Association of India, Shri V.V. Shinde, President, Deccan Sugar Technologists Association, Shri R.V. Vadnal, President South India Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association, Shri Dhruv Sawhney, CMD, Triveni Engineering and Industries Limited, Shri Dilip Chenoy, Chairman, National Skills Development Corporation, distinguished delegates, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen:
2. It gives me immense pleasure to be present at the 71st Annual Convention of the Sugar Technologists Association of India. I understand that the Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI) is a professional body of all the stake-holders of the sugar industry, and the choice of Hyderabad as the venue of the Convention underscores the rising status of the region on the sugar map of India.
3. I am happy to note that STAI, as a scientific and research body with members across the country has, during the last 87 years of its existence, been involved in the development of the sugar Industry through its workshops, seminars and conferences. In one way, the growth of the sugar industry in India has become synonymous with the activities of STAI. I am informed that STAI works in close association with The South Indian Sugarcane & Sugar Technologists’ Association (SISSTA) and Deccan Sugar Technologists’ Association (DSTA).
4. The sugar industry in India is technically highly advanced and one of the best in the world. Our technologists and professionals are working in various countries and our recent presence in Africa is an added feather in our cap. I recall that during my visit to Ethiopia last year, I had an occasion to meet and interact with a team of Indian sugar experts and technologists who were providing technical support and advice to sugar mills in that country, in the area of modernization and co-generation.
5. India, today, has a capacity to produce 26-28 Million tonnes of sugar on a sustained basis subject to availability of adequate sugarcane. Given our commitment to food security and the demand for land from competing crops, there is an urgent need that sugarcane in all its facets is better utilized as a source of sugar and bio-energy. The demand for sugar by 2020 is expected to be over 30 million tonnes signifying an annual growth rate of 3.75%. We have to gear up to take it as a challenge to meet with the increasing demand of sugar.
6. There is an absolute need to improve sugarcane yields which, you will agree, are below the potential level. The sub-tropical belt has a yield of 70 tonnes per hectare, whereas the tropical belt has a yield of only 55 tonnes per hectare. Indian sugarcane scientists and sugarcane managers have to come together and join hands with our farmers to increase the yield at the sub-tropical belt by at least 25% to bring it to a level of 100 tonnes per hectare. This can be possible with new technology like wide row spacing and mechanization of sugarcane cultivation - particularly harvesting, judicious use of fertilizer and adoption of newer and better technologies.
7. We must also have to think in terms of the welfare of the farmers of sugarcane. One way could be inter-cropping of various crops along with sugarcane, which will protect the farmers against sudden fall in production. This will also diversify risks and result in increase incomes.
8. I mentioned earlier the need for diversifying into bio-energy. Out of 500 factories only 150 factories are adopting co-generation of power which stands at 2500 MW now. Technocrats can really work towards increasing the number of factories going in for cogeneration of power and realize the full potential capacity of 8000 MW.
9. The ethanol blending programme depends on distilleries for constant and uninterrupted supply of ethanol. We will have to see if adopting modern technology can be taken recourse to pursue alternative ways of producing ethanol. Already concerns are expressed on the effect of distilleries on our fragile environment. Therefore, I would impress upon the STAI to consider working in this area by taking financial assistance from the Sugar Development Fund which supports such initiatives.
10. Sugar sector is badly in need of skills development. However, the presence of the Chairman of the National Skills Development Corporation here assures me that things are being taken care of in this area also. I am sure the sugar industry will benefit through development of skills of its regular and part time workers. A package of skills development designed for the sugar industry through coordination efforts among the sugar industry, the NSDC and the STAI will work wonders in developing the skills of the regular and part-time workers employed in the sugar industry.
11. The theme of this year’s convention – “Globalization of Indian Sugar Technologies” reflects the confidence of our technocrats in pursuing the phenomenal opportunities that exist to explore for them beyond our borders. A case in point has been our successful experiment in Ethiopia. Similar opportunities are available in other countries which need our assistance and guidance, which we can make the most use of. But one thing that we must keep in mind is that when we operate abroad, we are not just entrepreneurs, but double as the nation’s goodwill ambassadors. All our business activities must conform to the diplomatic norms and etiquettes. I exhort you to excel in technological innovations and strive for dissemination of this knowledge for the betterment of mankind, and exploit the excellent business opportunities that come our way.
12. I hope that through this convention, the STAI could play a catalytic role through mutual exchange of scientific knowledge and technical support. I am sure this will help sustain the sugar industry leading to creation of wealth and prosperity of all stakeholders including our farmers with the industry. I am sure the deliberations here will result in excellent scientific contributions encompassing subjects of sugar production, constraints in production, infrastructural development and mechanization of small farms that would be beneficial to all of us.
13. I wish the Convention the very best.
JAI HIND.
Mrs. Geeta Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Sugar, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Secretary, Department of Food and Public distribution, government of India, shri Sudhir Kumar, Dr. G.S.C. Rao, President, The Sugar Technologists Association of India, Shri V.V. Shinde, President, Deccan Sugar Technologists Association, Shri R.V. Vadnal, President South India Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association, Shri Dhruv Sawhney, CMD, Triveni Engineering and Industries Limited, Shri Dilip Chenoy, Chairman, National Skills Development Corporation, distinguished delegates, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen:
2. It gives me immense pleasure to be present at the 71st Annual Convention of the Sugar Technologists Association of India. I understand that the Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI) is a professional body of all the stake-holders of the sugar industry, and the choice of Hyderabad as the venue of the Convention underscores the rising status of the region on the sugar map of India.
3. I am happy to note that STAI, as a scientific and research body with members across the country has, during the last 87 years of its existence, been involved in the development of the sugar Industry through its workshops, seminars and conferences. In one way, the growth of the sugar industry in India has become synonymous with the activities of STAI. I am informed that STAI works in close association with The South Indian Sugarcane & Sugar Technologists’ Association (SISSTA) and Deccan Sugar Technologists’ Association (DSTA).
4. The sugar industry in India is technically highly advanced and one of the best in the world. Our technologists and professionals are working in various countries and our recent presence in Africa is an added feather in our cap. I recall that during my visit to Ethiopia last year, I had an occasion to meet and interact with a team of Indian sugar experts and technologists who were providing technical support and advice to sugar mills in that country, in the area of modernization and co-generation.
5. India, today, has a capacity to produce 26-28 Million tonnes of sugar on a sustained basis subject to availability of adequate sugarcane. Given our commitment to food security and the demand for land from competing crops, there is an urgent need that sugarcane in all its facets is better utilized as a source of sugar and bio-energy. The demand for sugar by 2020 is expected to be over 30 million tonnes signifying an annual growth rate of 3.75%. We have to gear up to take it as a challenge to meet with the increasing demand of sugar.
6. There is an absolute need to improve sugarcane yields which, you will agree, are below the potential level. The sub-tropical belt has a yield of 70 tonnes per hectare, whereas the tropical belt has a yield of only 55 tonnes per hectare. Indian sugarcane scientists and sugarcane managers have to come together and join hands with our farmers to increase the yield at the sub-tropical belt by at least 25% to bring it to a level of 100 tonnes per hectare. This can be possible with new technology like wide row spacing and mechanization of sugarcane cultivation - particularly harvesting, judicious use of fertilizer and adoption of newer and better technologies.
7. We must also have to think in terms of the welfare of the farmers of sugarcane. One way could be inter-cropping of various crops along with sugarcane, which will protect the farmers against sudden fall in production. This will also diversify risks and result in increase incomes.
8. I mentioned earlier the need for diversifying into bio-energy. Out of 500 factories only 150 factories are adopting co-generation of power which stands at 2500 MW now. Technocrats can really work towards increasing the number of factories going in for cogeneration of power and realize the full potential capacity of 8000 MW.
9. The ethanol blending programme depends on distilleries for constant and uninterrupted supply of ethanol. We will have to see if adopting modern technology can be taken recourse to pursue alternative ways of producing ethanol. Already concerns are expressed on the effect of distilleries on our fragile environment. Therefore, I would impress upon the STAI to consider working in this area by taking financial assistance from the Sugar Development Fund which supports such initiatives.
10. Sugar sector is badly in need of skills development. However, the presence of the Chairman of the National Skills Development Corporation here assures me that things are being taken care of in this area also. I am sure the sugar industry will benefit through development of skills of its regular and part time workers. A package of skills development designed for the sugar industry through coordination efforts among the sugar industry, the NSDC and the STAI will work wonders in developing the skills of the regular and part-time workers employed in the sugar industry.
11. The theme of this year’s convention – “Globalization of Indian Sugar Technologies” reflects the confidence of our technocrats in pursuing the phenomenal opportunities that exist to explore for them beyond our borders. A case in point has been our successful experiment in Ethiopia. Similar opportunities are available in other countries which need our assistance and guidance, which we can make the most use of. But one thing that we must keep in mind is that when we operate abroad, we are not just entrepreneurs, but double as the nation’s goodwill ambassadors. All our business activities must conform to the diplomatic norms and etiquettes. I exhort you to excel in technological innovations and strive for dissemination of this knowledge for the betterment of mankind, and exploit the excellent business opportunities that come our way.
12. I hope that through this convention, the STAI could play a catalytic role through mutual exchange of scientific knowledge and technical support. I am sure this will help sustain the sugar industry leading to creation of wealth and prosperity of all stakeholders including our farmers with the industry. I am sure the deliberations here will result in excellent scientific contributions encompassing subjects of sugar production, constraints in production, infrastructural development and mechanization of small farms that would be beneficial to all of us.
13. I wish the Convention the very best.
JAI HIND.
