Sugarbeet Processing in India

From the present studies, it was observed that, with the recent development of tropicalized hybrids of sugar beet, it is possible to raise the crop in tropical and subtropical areas in India. Hence, sugar beet can be considered as a additional supplementary source for production of white sugar as well as ethanol in India.
However, as on today, there is no any commercial sugar beet processing unit available in India for production of white sugar. The ICAR team, when visited the European countries like France, Sweden and U.K. during 13-25 November, 2004, recommended that, the Government of India should help in establishing sugarbeet processing plant attached to the present sugar factories and distilleries for the production of white sugar and ethanol.
In view of above a meeting was convened under the Chairmanship and Hon. Union Minister of Agriculture at VSI on 25 December, 2005 and decided to install 100 MT/day pilot sugar beet processing plant at Samarth SSK Ltd, Ankushnagar, Dist. Jalna in Maharashtra working in conjunction with existing 2500-3000 TCD plant.
Accordingly, the pilot plant of 100 MT/day/TBD was established during 2006-07 at Samarth SSK Ltd, Ankushnagar, Dist. Jalna in Maharashtra under the financial assistance from Sugarcane Development Fund, Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Government of India, New Delhi costing to Rs.2.34 crores.
During the first year 2006-07, the plant was operated for 51 days and crushed about 873 tonnes of sugar beet. The sugar beet juice was mixed with sugarcane juice and processed with double sulphitation method. The average recovery obtained was 11.76% and total losses were 4.21%. Further, it was also experienced that, under optimum management level, the sugar beet productivity of 50 to 70 t/ha can be easily obtained under tropical conditions of Maharashtra in India. The second trial season will be completed during 2007-08.
Based on the experiences from first year trial season, the Government of Maharahstra is thinking to install 500 to 1000 TBD plant which will be operated in conjunction with 2500 to 5000 TCD existing sugarcane processing plants. Alternatively, separate sugar beet processing plants of 1250 to 2500 TBD can be considered for production of white sugar or ethanol. The economic viability of such various options is under critcal examination of Government of Maharashtra. Further decision and future action plan will be decided appropriately.