The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Bio-refining of sugarcane stressed

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Friday, May 16, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Bio-refining of sugarcane stressed

Staff Reporter

Gururaj delivers 2nd Goli Narasimha Rao Memorial Lecture

The ultimate aim is to produce bio-fuels like ethanol, he says
Energy security possible through short duration oil seed cultivation

Kakinada: Sugarcane has been considered a ‘monolithic commodity’ that produces only sugar but the fact that it yields several other food products, fertiliser, fibre and fuel is often ignored.

Food security

Integrated nutrient, pest and disease management and non-edible oil seed cropping in sugarcane helps in achieving food and energy security.

Ultimate aim

Hence, ‘bio-refining’ of sugarcane has to be envisioned to maximise its utility, said Gururaj Hunsugi, Director of KJ Somaiya Institute of Applied Agricultural Research, Sameerwadi (Karnataka).

Delivering the 2nd Goli Narasimha Rao (an eminent sugarcane scientist from East Godavari district) Memorial Lecture on ‘Technological futures in sugarcane production’ organised here by Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University and Nava Bharat Ventures Limited (Sugar Division), Samalkot, Dr. Gururaj said bio-refining of sugarcane was defined as a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuel, power and chemicals.

The ultimate aim is to produce bio-fuels like ethanol in addition to sugar and other by-products.

Dr. Gururaj said energy security was possible through short duration oil seed cultivation in a sugarcane cropping system, which produces adequate quantities of bio-fuels.

Besides, the varied food products of sugarcane help in meeting the burgeoning food requirement.

Therefore, the means to fully harness sugarcane crop have to be explored.

Mechanisation

Latest technological means of cultivation have to be adopted to maximise the sugarcane yields and for this purpose efforts should be made to take the research work to the fields.

Mechanisation of sugarcane farming is one area where collective efforts should be made to achieve the best results, Dr. Gururaj has added.

Nava Bharat Ventures Limited (Sugar Division) Vice-President N.Prabhakar, Deccan Sugars Limited General Manager Trimurthulu, KCP Sugars Limited General Manager G. Venkateswara Rao and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Anakapalli Principal Scientist (Sugar) N.V. Naidu were among those present.

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