The Hindu Business Line : Sun Fruits develops new stevia strains

THE Pune-based Sun Fruits Ltd has staked its claim to being the first Indian company to have developed successfully new varieties of stevia rebaudiana with varying glucosidal concentrations and suitable for different climatic conditions in the country.

Stevia rebaudiana is today a major source of high potency sweetener for the growing natural food market in many parts of the world. The herb currently accounts for as much as 40 per cent of the sweetener market in Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

The Managing Director of Sun Fruits, Mr Shivraj R. Bhosle, told Business Line that the development of new varieties was preceded by five years of research.

The new varieties are:

- SRB 123 with a total glucosidal content of 9-12 per cent, suitable for the Deccan plateau where it can be harvested five to six times a year;

- SRB 512 with a total glucosidal content of 9-12 per cent, suitable for the northern plains where it can be harvested four times a year; and

- SRB 128, a unique variety with a very high total glucosidal content of 21 per cent, suitable for both the southern and northern regions of the country.

According to Mr Bhosle, the leaves of stevia rebaudiana are 30 times sweeter than sugar — with no calories — and the pure extract of the herb is 300 times sweeter than sugar. "One acre of stevia rebaudiana cultivation produces sweetener equivalent to 36 acres of sugarcane."

As India is the largest consumer of cane sugar and has also the largest diabetic population in the world, there is bound to be a significant demand for stevia rebaudiana, Mr Bhosle said.

"As stevia rebaudiana is relatively new to the Indian market, there is a confusion with regard to its marketing. There are some farmers who insist on a buy-back arrangement. Some reputed business houses offer buy-back at Rs 60-70 per kg. We believe that this price is on the low side and that, on an average, the farmer should get a price of Rs 100 per kg to break even in the first year."

Mr Bhosle pointed out that there is a growing international market as well for stevia rebaudiana. "There are offers to buy container loads of stevia leaves at a price of $25 per kg. However, the international demand is only for high quality stevia leaves with a minimum steviocide content of nine per cent. There is no buyer for stevia leaves with a steviocide content of less than eight per cent."

It was this consideration, among others, which motivated Sun Fruits to develop new varieties of stevia rebaudiana. There are about 90 varieties of stevia rebaudiana which have been developed in different parts of the world. At the end of the day, as in the case of sugarcane, it is the steviocide and rebaudiocide content in the stevia leaves that determine their price and marketability. In many cases in South India, it was observed that the steviocide content was as low as 3.5 per cent, which was below the minimum market requirement of nine per cent.

It is imperative that the grower selects varieties with adequate guarantees from the planting material suppliers relating to the minimum assured steviocide and rebaudiocide content, according to Mr Bhosle.

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