Research on sugar consumption

Sugarcane Research Institute completes 25 years of research and extension, and this article is in commemoration of this occasion.

By Dr. C. S. Weeraratna

Sugar is one of the main food items consumed in Sri Lanka. The annual per capita consumption of sugar in Sri Lanka is around 30 kg and the total annual requirement of sugar in the country is around 550,000t. But, only about 50,000 t are produced locally. In the year 2008, only 38,000 t were produced. The balance requirement has to be imported. The total annual expenditure on sugar imports is around Rs. 20 billion.

Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) is the only crop cultivated in Sri Lanka to manufacture sugar, although there are crops such as coconut, kitul and palmyra which can be used to manufacture sugar based substances such as jaggery and treacle. Sugarcane has been cultivated in Sri Lanka since 1840s. About two decades ago, in 1990s, sugarcane was cultivated in about 25, 000 hectares. But, it has come down to around 15,000 ha, and most of it is cultivated in the Moneragala District.

At present, only Pelwatta Sugar Industries, and Sevanagala Sugar Industries are involved in commercial production of sugar. Hingurana sugar factory which was closed for a long time started to cultivate sugarcane and Kantale Sugar Industry expected to cultivate sugarcane in Kantale in the near future.

Sri Lanka spends a large sum of money in importing petroleum. In 2008 the total expenditure on petroleum was Rs. 364 billion. This constitutes almost about 25% of the value of our imports and is about 40% of the value of our total exports. In view of the high costs involved in importing crude oil, it is extremely important that we start producing and using alternatives to petroleum.

Ethanol is a suitable alternative. It is one of the important by-products of the sugarcane industr y and is made from molasses. This is the portion of the sugarcane juice which contains sugars other than sucrose (what is normally consumed) and a number of other organic compounds. One of the compounds formed during fermentation of molasses is ethanol. In addition to sugar, about 12 million litres of ethanol are produced annually at the two factories in Sevanagala and Pelwatta.

Another by-product of the sugarcane industry is bagasse which could be used to generate electricity. In addition, animal feeds, bagasse based fiber boards, biogas, numerous organic compounds such as acetone, butanol etc. are other by-products of the sugarcane industry. Developing the Sugar Sector: Developing the local sugar sector will result in an improved production of sugar, ethanol, electricity and a host of industrial chemicals and thereby saving a considerable amount of foreign exchange.

Increase production of sugar in the country will increase our food security. It will also increase employment opportunities in areas such as Siyabalanduwa, Buttala, Badulla. Amapara, Kanthale etc. where there is a very high degree of poverty. Hence, increased cultivation of sugarcane will lead to considerable socio-economic development of the country. Unfortunately, some of the advisors of the previous government were of the opinion that it is profitable to import sugar than producing it locally. As a result the sugar sector continued to remain undeveloped. However, Mahinda Chintanaya has emphasized the need to promote sugar production in the country and it is likely that this sector will develop in the coming years.

Sugarcane Research Institute

Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament No. 75 of 1981 to conduct research on cultivation and processing of sugarcane, to cater to technical needs of the sugar industry of Sri Lanka. SRI was formally inaugurated on April 29, 1983 and it has been functioning as an independent institution since January 1, 1984. Presently it is under the purview of the R.M. Dharmadasa Banda, the Minister of Supplementary Plantation Crops Development.

The institute has the main research complex at Uda Walawe, about 150km off Colombo, and an office in Rathmalana. In addition, the institute has a quarantine farm in Hantana, Kandy, an arrowing station at Deniyaya and a pathology farm at Siyambalanduwa . The institute has a total staff strength of around 200, and about 40 are directly involved in scientific research.

Sugarcane Research Institute plays a very important role in the development of the sugar sector in Sri Lanka by being involved in the following.

i. Development of sugarcane varieties with high cane and sugar yields, tolerant/resistant to pests and diseases and with desirable features for cultivation in different sugarcane-growing areas; ii. Development of better, economical crop management and fertilizer practices; iii. Effective control of pests and diseases; iv. Development of appropriate farm machinery and implements for small holder farm mechanization and iv. Development of technologies for sustainable production of sugar and sugar industry by-products, and diversification of the sugar industry.

During the last 25 years SRI had been able to make valuable contributions to the sugar sector in Sri Lanka. The plant breeders at SRI had been able to develop a number of sugarcane varieties such as SL 8306, SLI 121, SL 88-116 with high cane and sugar yields, tolerant/resistant to pests and diseases and with desirable features for cultivation in different sugarcane-growing areas.

The industry is using these varieties in their plantations to a considerable extent. Better agronomic practices leading to higher yields have been developed by SRI. Recently, SRI researchers have been able to introduce a new planting technique which have resulted in a marked reduction in the amount of seed cane required for planting. SRI with the collaboration of Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control in Pakistan introduced a moth which was a parasite on Pyrilla, an insect which affected sugarcane crop to a considerable extent. Another insect Wooly Aphid caused a considerable damage to the sugarcane crop. SRI has undertaken biological control measures to control this insect by releasing a predator of Wooly Aphid (Dipha aphidivora) thereby controlling this pest. In the area of diseases control too the Microbiologists of SRI have been able to identify the vector of White Leaf Disease, which will be useful in the control of this phytoplasmic disease which affects the sugarcane crop to a considerable extent.

NPK fertilizer mixtures based on nutrient uptake have been provided to the sugar industry. Recommendations also have been made on the use of filter mud ( a waste product of sugarcane industry) Agricultural Engineers at SRI have been able to develop appropriate farm machinery and implements such as Disc Ratooner and Fertilizer Applicator for small holder farm mechanization. They also have developed a Hot-Water treatment plant at Udawalawe which is useful in removing the pathogens in seed cane.

The sugarcane farmers are made aware of the research findings of SRI by the extension division of SRI. A few months ago SRI was able to employ Development Officers to handle extension/development activities in 4 districts. It is expected that these officers will promote the cultivation of sugarcane in districts such as Badulla, Kurunegala, Ampara and Moneragala . The researchers in the division of Economics and Biometry assist the research projects of the other divisions.

(The writer is the Chairman, Sugarcane Research Board)