Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 |
||
|
|
||
|
Agri-Biz & Commodities
-
Sugar It's sweet, but can't be crushed L.N. Revathy
Coimbatore , Jan. 20 HAVE you ever wondered why the `black sugarcane' that is sold in large numbers during the Tamil festival of Pongal is not used in crushing? Simple. This cane is neither fit for crushing nor for extraction of cane juice. It is otherwise called the `chewing cane'. Saccharum Officinarum or Poovan Karumbu is a soft sugarcane variety, which tastes sweeter than any other cane variety. The glucose and fructose content in the black cane is much higher at over 2 per cent compared with one to 1.5 per cent in the conventional canes, says the Director of the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Dr N. Balasundaram. Further, while the conventional canes are ready for harvest in a year's time, the Poovan Karumbu takes up to two years. A lot of care has to be taken in cultivating this cane, as it is susceptible to drought. It is raised using organic manure since it is palatable as such. Farmers shy away from cultivating this cane as it is not a profitable proposition. Yet, they are brought in large numbers to the market place during the festive season. Reliable sources say that it is being cultivated in an area of about 1,000 acres in and around Madurai, Theni, Bhavani and Salem. Just like any other farm produce, it is a money-spinner for the traders. While the grower parts with it at Rs 3 per cane, the trader offloads it at Rs 12 per cane.
More Stories on : Sugar | Tamil Nadu
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|