Ilndustryl SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN SUGAR PRODUCTION-THE ROLE OF RESEARCH By M. D. N. Austin The Government in its attempts to achieve selfsufficiency in sugar production has allowed the private sector to open sugar factories and they have achieved consider­ able success. Sugar is one of the most essential consumer items in Sri Lanka. The consumption of sugar is approximately 250,000 metric tonnes. Only 10% of this quantity is produced at the Government owned sugar factories at Kantalai and Hin- gurana. The rest is imported at an annual cost ranging from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 Million. This is a major drain on Sri Lanka's hard-earned foreign exchange earnings. However, the country earns foreign exchange from one of the by-products of sugar - potable alcohol. Some 500,000 gallons are exported annually. The methods of technology used play a vital role in sugar production. In terms of process technology, sugar can be manufac­ tured in open or vacuum pan factories. The open vacuum pan factories are cheap and easy to install. But, one of the main disad­ vantages according to experts the quantity of sugar extracted from this process is less. Although the vacuum pan system is more complex and sophisticated it is capital inten­ sive. The authorities have especially men­ tioned that after more than two decades of operation, the two state Owned sugar factories are working at 50% capacity due to inadequate cane production and frequent breakdown because of poor factory mainte­ nance. According to the latest surveys made, although cost-intensive, the vacuum pan factories are capable of crushing 5000 tons of sugar cane per day corresponding to about 30,000 to 35,000 acres of cane under The Government of Sri Lanka has realised that the employment of new technology and research has to pay a vital role in local sugar production industry. For this purpose, the sugar cane research institute was estab­ lished by an act of Parliament - No. 75 of 1981. However, it became an autonomous institute only in 1984. The sugar cane research institute needed the latest sophis- , tfcated equipment and other infrastructure facilities for its research programmes. The required laboratory equipment, field instru­ ments and agricultural machinery were obtained through grant aid from Japan. The main sugar cane research station was con­ structed in a 350 acre block of land on the right bank of the Uda Walawe river. Sugar cane research will largely depend on the research and infrastructure facilities pro­ vided by the Japanese grant aid. Modern methods of research will be used to produce various sugar cane varieties. The Sugar Cane Research Institute has been able to release six locally bred varieties of sugar cane suitable for the areas in which they are grown. The performance of the recently introduced varieties CO 1287 and Q 101 have been highly recommended by research workers. The locally bred variety CO 1163 has not performed so well, but, it might be used in the local sugar cane industry. The sugar cane varieties suitable for local conditions are bred from imported varieties. So far ten varieties obtained from Mauritius and India had been used for breeding and another twenty varieties are expected from Canal Point. The latest techniques for tissue culture plays a vital role in- breeding high-yielding sugar cane suitable for local conditions. The scientists at the Sugar Cane Research Institute' have MODIFIED VACUUM PAN FACTORIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Category Capacity Total Cane require for Season (Tons) Crop Area Dry Zone Intermediate (Acres) Zone (Acres) Capital Cost (Rs.Mn) 1982 (a) Vacuum Pan Process 5.000 900,000 41,100 30,000 n.a. 1. Larfe Scale 2,500 1,200 450,000 216,000 21,000 10,000 15,000 7,200 570' 420 2. Medium Scale 600 108,000 4,900 3,600 200 3. Small Scale 300 150 54,000 27,000 2,450 1,700 1,300 900 100 n.a. (b) Open Pan Process 1.Small Scale 200 100 n.a. 18,000 n.a. 820 n.a. 600 9.5 5.6 Source: Crop Agriculture Development Strategy been able to perfect the technique of growing slices of young, unexpended leaf tissues and undifferentiated floral tissues in modified murashige and Skoog medium to obtain Vigorous Callus within two weeks. After root induction and hardening, the shoots could be transferred to first ground nursery within a month. The progress achieved by Sugar Cane Research institute is significant at 200 Caliclones obtained by above technique are now being fed to the intensive care selection stage of the breeding prog­ ramme. Although new varieties have been bred by using tissue culture techniques, diseases pose a serious threat to sugar cane cultiva­ tion. Intensive surveys on the various dis­ eases have been carried out at the planta­ tions of Pelwatta Sugar Company and Monaragala Sugar Company. An uniden­ tified strain of sugar cane mosaic disease has been found and measures have been taken to prevent its spread to other planta­ tions. Intensive pest surveys had been car­ ried out during the last few yars. But, fortunately no serious pests have been found. As I have mentioned before, the Govern­ ment alone is incapable of developing the sugar industry to reach the target of self-suf­ ficiency. Private Sugar Companies have invested large amounts of money to develop the sugar industry. The Government has assured them that their entire production will be purchased within a specified time at an agreed price. Most of the factories have begun production and when all (he factories are in operation, monthly sugar production will be in excess of consumption thus attaining the target of self-sufficiency. However, the Government should some how try to bring down the cost of production. The cost of maintaining the factories will contribute significantly to higher prices. Recently a number of internationally repu­ ted manufacturers of sugar cane processing equipment have attempted to develop economically viable small plants suited for the developing countries in Asia. The man­ ufacturers have redesigned the vacuum pan factories to bring down the cost of operation. Some of the designs are still in the experi­ mental stage. Some of the interesting data on the economically viable plants are given below: