The second day of the National Sugar Fest currently underway on the campus of Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research witnessed jaggery in different forms. From jaggery cubes and candies to puddings, a major portion of Sunday was devoted to jaggery - one of key ingredients of the Indian kitchens.
The highlight of the day was launching of cake made using jaggery by a Brazilian and Chinese participant at the meet. Giving further information about the day's development, senior scientist AK Sah, said, "An exhibition showcasing the value added products from jaggery was organised at the jaggery unit of the Institute. A cake made using jaggery was launched, which was cut by Dr Raeffelo from Brazil and Yang RuiLi from China.
All the products like jaggery cube, candy, pudding etc. were displayed in the exhibition." Jaggery incharge SI Anwar explained the process of jaggery manufacturing and innovative food products made from jaggery to the visiting delegates.
Apart from this, many colourful programmes like cane chewing, rangoli, kite flying, run for health, extempore, open quiz were organised. About 30 ladies (girls and house wives) participated in the rangoli competition and all of them made beautiful rangoli based on theme of sugar crops. About 50 participants enjoyed the sweet taste of cane chewing and tried their best to win the prize by chewing as many numbers of cane sets within the stipulated time. As many as 125 children participated in run for health competition.Foundation day of IISR was also organised on Sunday in which more than 400 farmers visited the institute and saw the technologies displayed by different agricultural agencies and research Institutes like IISR, CISH, NBFGR, KVKs, etc.
Sivajirao Deshmukh, director general, VSI, Pune delivered the foundation day lecture on 'Indian Sugar Industry: R&D priorities for 21st century'. Dr N Gopalkrishanan, ADG, ICAR, New Delhi on this occasion congratulated IISR director and scientists for their achievements during last 62 years.
The three-day long National SugarFest-2014 and International Conclave on Sugar Crops were inaugurated by SK Dutta, DDG (Crop Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi. The spectacular beginning with presentation by ladies staff of the institute set the humorous tone of international conclave and sugar fest. Welcoming the chief guest and delegates, Dr S Solomon, director, IISR remarked that sugar mills must be essentially converted into sugarcane processing complex to produce sugar, ethanol, baggase, electric-cogeneration (green energy), bio-fertiliser, bio-plastics etc.
There is a need to intensify research efforts for technological advancement in the areas of green energy production from sugar crops like sugarcane, sugarbeet, palm, sweet corn etc. Solomon said that this conclave will provide networking opportunity to researchers, processors, industrialists, entrepreneurs, growers and other stakeholders for green energy production.
Chief guest Dr SK Dutta remarked that India and Brazil jointly contribute more that 60% of the world sugarcane and sugar production. During last few decades Brazil has emerged as number one country in ethanol and bio-energy sources. India can utilize Brazilian experiences and technology for harnessing the un-tapped bio-energy potential of sugar crops specially sugarcane. The varietal development programme must utilise new tool of researches for developing cane varieties having high amount of bio-mass and sugar.
In India, public and private sector should work together for popularisation of sugarbeet cultivation and its processing. Raffaella Rossetto, scientist from Brazil presented Brazilian programme of Ethanol production. She said that 40% energy requirement of Brazil comes from renewable sources and sugarcane contributes 19%.In 1925 first car was introduced in Brazil which runs on ethanol and gasoline. In 2012 about 80% or more cars in Brazil runs on blended petrol with 40% ethanol. Brazil is planning to introduce world's first transgenic cane variety to enhance cane productivity by 25% with added advantage of borers and drought tolerant.
Presently, Brazil is producing 25 billion litres of ethanol and exporting about 3.5 billion litres.In the international conclave 24 foreign delegates from Brazil, Australia, Spain, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uganda and about 150 Indian delegates are participating.IISR is also disseminating information on sugarcane production and processing technologies through exhibitions, business meets, topical lectures and demonstrations. Out of rainbow activities planned for sugar fest, school band in full uniform, fancy dress for kids, balloon blowing, flower arrangement and mehndi for ladies was organised today in which children, students and ladies participated with all enthusiasm despite continuous light shower.
Source: -timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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