Sugar Cane, Sugar Cane on-farm improved crusing Technology

Development of on-farm improved sugarcane-crushing technology

Sugarcane is an important cash crop, which is grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions

Sugarcane accounts for 65 % of the global sugar production

Pakistan is the 5th largest sugarcane-producing country in the world

The area of cultivation was 1.172 million hectares with an average production of about 66.5 million tonnes

Punjab accounts for 68 % of total sugarcane production

The average recovery of sugar is 10 % (the world average is 10.6 %)

The average national yield is 56.5 tonnes per hectare

The crushing capacity of 86 sugar mills is over 50 million tonnes

Recommended varieties of sugarcane

Punjab

Early maturing: BL – 4, L –116, BF – 162, CP 43-33,CP 72-2086, CP 77-400, SPSG-26, CPF-237

Mid-season: TRITON, COL –54, SPF-213

Late maturing: L –118, COJ-84

Sindh

Lower Sindh (areas south of Hyderabad)

Early maturing: BL –4

Mid season: PR –1000, BF –129

Late maturing: NIA-98

Upper Sindh (areas north of Hyderabad)

Early maturing: BL-4, L –113, L –116, TRITON, SPSG-26

Late maturing: NIA-98 

KPK

Early maturing: CP 48-103, CP 51-21, CP 65-357, CPM –13, CO –1321, Mardan-93,      JN 88-1, ABID-96, SPSG-26

Mid season: CP 77-400, CP 44-101, IM –61, L 62-96, Mardan-92, Bannu-1

Sugarcane products

The main product of sugarcane is white sugar

Other products, such as Gur, Shakkar, and brown sugar are produced at the farm level

More than 100 by-products are produced from bagasse, molasses, and press-mud 

By-products include chipboards, hardboard, plywood, paper, ethanol, vinegar, acetic acid, organic fertilizer, poultry feed, fish feed, and many pharmaceutical products 

Conventional method.

Animal-drawn sugarcane crushers are generally used for making Gur, Shakkar, and brown sugar, which have a crushing capacity of 1 to 1.5 tonnes per day

Tractor-operated sugarcane crushers have a crushing capacity of about 1 tonnes/h

The average juice recovery by both types of crushers is between 46 to52% depending on the variety

Unrecoverable juice is about 20-22 %

Juice recovery is significantly low as compared with sugar mills (about 70 %)

Unrecoverable juice by sugar mills is about 10 %

Issues

Transportation of sugarcane to mills is a big problem for farmers

Increased road hazards during peak season

Delayed acceptance of sugarcane by mills  causes juice losses

Unattractive prices of sugarcane by mills during peak season

Conventional crushers have low crushing capacity and more juice losses

Improved sugarcane crushers at the farm level can serve as an intermediate solution

Yield sugar recovery in main sugarcane-growing countries of the world

National average cane yield, 

Additional minor diseases of sugarcane reported from Pakistan include chlorotic streak virus, ratoon stunting, yellow spot, red stripe, rust, and genetic variegation of leaf and sheath. These diseases pose significant challenges to sugarcane cultivation in the region and require diligent monitoring and management strategies to mitigate their impact on crop yield and quality.

Pests of sugarcane can vary depending on the region, but some common pests worldwide include:

1. Sugarcane Borers: These include top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis), stem borers (Chilo spp., Eldana saccharina), and root borers (Emmalocera spp., Dorysthenes spp.). They bore into different parts of the sugarcane plant, causing damage and reducing yield.

2. Sugarcane Aphids: Aphids such as the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) feed on sugarcane sap, causing stunted growth and reducing sugar content.

3. Sugarcane Whiteflies: Whiteflies (Aleurolobus barodensis) feed on sugarcane sap and can transmit viruses, leading to yield loss and reduced sugar content.

4. Sugarcane Leafhoppers: Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae family) feed on sugarcane leaves, causing leaf damage and transmitting diseases.

5. Sugarcane Termites: Termites (Microtermes spp., Odontotermes spp.) can damage sugarcane roots and stems, leading to weakened plants and reduced yield.

6. Sugarcane Mealybugs: Mealybugs (Saccharicoccus sacchari) feed on sugarcane sap, causing stunted growth and reducing sugar content.

7. Sugarcane Scale Insects: Scale insects (e.g., Aulacaspis tegalensis) can infest sugarcane, affecting plant growth and reducing yield.

8. Sugarcane Mites: Mites (e.g., Oligonychus sacchari) can damage sugarcane leaves, leading to reduced photosynthesis and yield loss.

These pests can cause significant damage to sugarcane crops, leading to yield losses and reduced sugar quality if not managed effectively through integrated pest management strategies. for more