New Sugarcane variety with 14 % recovery : Gadkari

Nagpur : New Sugarcane Variety has been developed by Brazil, and it can boost Maharashtra’s economy by Rs. 25000 crore, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

Gadkari speaking in a function here, said adoption of a new sugarcane variety with 14 per cent sugar recovery rate could boost Maharashtra’s economy by Rs 25,000 crore.

“Brazil has developed a sugarcane breed through biotechnology that offers 14 per cent sugar recovery. If we use a similar variety in Maharashtra, it could positively impact our state’s economy by Rs 25,000 crore,” Gadkari said in his address at the silver jubilee programme of Saturday Club Global Trust in Nagpur.

The minister said he had shared detailed information about the high-yield sugarcane breed with Vasantdada Sugar Institute and had asked it to work on developing an equivalent variety suited for local conditions.

“Kolhapur district currently records the highest sugar recovery in Maharashtra at around 12 to 12.5 per cent, while Vidarbha lags at approximately 11.25 per cent. The difference of even 1 per cent in sugar recovery translates to Rs 7 to 8 crore in gains,” he said while emphasising the economic benefits of switching to more efficient sugarcane breeds.

In his address, the minister underlined fundamental principles of entrepreneurship, stating that success in business lies in understanding market demand and supply.

“Anyone who understands demand and supply can succeed. If you identify what is in short supply and produce it, there is profit,” he said.

He added that credibility and honesty are the greatest assets for entrepreneurs in the 21st century.

“When I became minister, the size of the automobile industry was Rs 7 lakh crore, and India ranked seventh globally. Today, it is Rs 23 lakh crore, and we have overtaken Japan to become the third largest automobile economy. The United States tops the list at Rs 78 lakh crore, followed by China at Rs 49 lakh crore,” he said.

Speaking about alternative fuels, Gadkari said while the world predominantly uses petrol and diesel, India is moving forward with vehicles powered by CNG, LNG, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel and hydrogen. “My own car runs on a flex engine with 40 per cent ethanol blended in petrol. Petrol costs Rs 120 per litre, while ethanol is about Rs 60. Flex engines reduce transportation costs significantly,” he pointed out.