vol. 12, issue - 4, december 2012 vol.-13, issue-2, july...

VASANTDADA SUGAR INSTITUTE

VSI Bulletin : Vol.-13, Issue-2, July 2013

Vol. 12, Issue - 4, December 2012 Vol.-13, Issue-2, July 2013

The ending of the second quarter of the year also

marks the onset of the monsoon in Maharashtra. The

state faced severe water scarcity in the summer gone

by but the rain gods have been benevolent now and

the monsoon has covered most parts of the state very

well. This augurs well for the sugar industry as it would

mean an increase in the area under cane however the

farmers and the industry would do well to remember

the times of scarcity and plan for efficient water

management. Whilst the monsoon is a life giving force

in the subcontinent, it would also be prudent to

remember the devastation caused in Uttarakhand by

its unleashed fury.

The Indian sugar industry is perhaps the most

regulated in the world and the sugar co-operatives in

particular have benefitted from these regulatory

controls. In April 2013, the Government announced the

relaxation of market controls aimed at improving the

profitability of the mills. This move puts the onus on

the industry to build a dynamic and sustainable structure

which can absorb the shocks of fluctuating markets. It

is also a warning to the co-operatives to tighten their

belts and engage in professional management in this

competitive environment. On the world stage, Brazil

which generally controls the market prices due to its

flexible production system seems to be viewing fuel

ethanol as a lesser priority than before. It therefore

seems probable that more and more of the sugarcane

produced in the country may be diverted towards the

manufacture of sugar resulting in lowering of

worldwide sugar prices. The Indian sugar industry

needs to watch this situation closely for the impacts

it may face. There is also a need to rethink India's

biofuels policy particularly in the face of the lowering

value of the Indian Rupee as compared to the US Dollar

and other major currencies of the world so as to reduce

its dependence on petroleum imports.

VSI officials recently participated in the ISSCT

congress in Brazil and also had the opportunity to

visit many sugar mills. Details about the visit are

included in this issue along with other conferences

and trainings organized by VSI in the last quarter.

Significant among these are the customized training

programs for personnel from the Ethiopian Sugar

Corporation and other short term training programs

for sugar industry personnel. These highlight the

capability and contribution of the Institute to Human

Resource Development for this industry.

(Dr. Deepali Nimbalkar)Editor

Advisor : Shivajirao Deshmukh Editor : Dr. Deepali Nimbalkar Layout & Photography : Shriram Patil

VSIBulletin is published by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune.


Manjari (Bk), Pune - 412 307; Maharashtra. Phone - (020) 26902100; Fax - (020) 26902244E-mail : [email protected] Website: www.vsisugar.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the VSI. The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to accuracy, applicabilityor completeness of information. Contents are for reference purpose only. Using it for any other purpose than for which it is shared is unauthorized and prohibited. No material from the issue may be copied, reproduced,republished, uploaded or commercially exploited in any manner without the prior consent of the publisher.Copyright © Vasantdada Sugar Institute



The Principal Scientific Adviser to The Government

of India has constituted an expert group for under-

taking a scoping study of distillery industry under

Green Chemistry initiative with following committee

members.

1. Dr. G N Qazi, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard,

Chairman

2. Dr. Subhas Chand, IIT, Delhi, Member

3. Sh. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General,

Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, Member

4. Dr. A G Rao, BEEC Div., IICT, Hyderabad, Member

5. Dr. B Subba Rao, “Environment Protection

Research Foundation”, International School in

Environment Management Studies, Sangli,

Maharashtra, Member

6. Representative, CPCB, Member

7. Dr. Manju Gerard, Scientist ‘E’, Office of PSA to

GoI Member Secretary

The objectives and terms of reference for the expert

group are

a) To undertake a scoping study for distillery industry

sector covering all the existing problems

regarding environmental concerns;

NEWS

Appointment of Shri. Shivajirao Deshmukh on expert group for distillery

industry under Green Chemistry initiative

NEWS

2

b) To prioritize the concerns in order of preference.

c) To suggest possible R & D interventions to

integrate concerns;

d) To identify the researchers from various

institutes and industry who can take up the R &

D activity;

e) Any other activity as assigned by the core group.

The tenure of the committee is six months. The

members of the committee visited the distillery unit

of Radico Khaitan Ltd. at Rampur for carrying out the

scoping study on May 13, 2013. The second visit to

the distillery units of Sakthi Sugars Ltd. and Bannari

Amman Sugars Ltd., Tamilnadu was organized on May

23 & 24, 2013.

The members had discussions on the various

issues of the distillery industry including the CREP

norms, achieving ZLD etc. The committee members

also interacted with the technical staff of the

distilleries visited. While understanding the

controlled land application of distillery spentwash,

the members had an opportunity to interact with

farmers who have been using spent wash as manure

for the past several years.



3

VSI has opened facets of cane development

consultancy not only in cooperative sugar mills of

Maharashtra but invariably in private sugar mills in

the state and sugar mills in other states also.

Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd. and Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd.

have a group of five sugar mills each and are

implementing various cane development activities

under the guidelines of the Institute’s agriculture

scientists.

Recently, the Director General of Vasantdada

Sugar Institute visited Dhampur Sugar Mills, Rajpura

unit. He visited the modern biofertilizer production

unit established under the supervision of

microbiologist and soil scientist from VSI. He

interacted with the sugar mill officials and farmers

in the operational area of sugar mill. This interaction

was useful in gauging their awareness and outlook

regarding sugarcane cultivation, response and

usefulness of biofertilizer products in sugarcane. He

also addressed the cane managers of all sugar mills

and asked them to undertake strategic cane

development action plan in their respective areas.

The cane managers discussed on-farm constraints

like lack of varietal development programme in

Uttar Pradesh, non availability of certified seed,

dense cultivation

practices. Cane

managers expressed

their experiences

regarding the

biofertilizers use in

sugarcane grown on

course textured

sandy loam to clay

loam soil. The

Director General in

his address appealed

to the sugar mills to

establish separate

cane development

wing. He also said

VSI’s Cane Development Consultancy Services in Uttar Pradesh

that cane staff need to divert 50 percent of their

working time to cane development from cane

procurement. He suggested to rejuvenate the old

good performing sugarcane varieties like CoS767

through tissue culture technique and increase the

seed replacement ratio to improve the cane

productivity.

VSI is also giving cane development consultancy

to Uttam Sugar Mills. Scientists successfully

demonstrated wider space and trench method of

sugarcane plantation, on farm pressmud cake

decomposing and its use in plant and ratoon cane,

multimacro & multimicronutrient foliar applications,

liquid biofertilizer applications and plant protection

measures to control white grub and borers on large

scale. Cane growers from this area adopted these

techniques on thousands of ha area and some of the

cane growers benefitted with the cane yields

maximum up to 160 t/ha.



PARTCIPATION IN CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPSPARTCIPATION IN CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS

IISR-Industry Interface on Sugarbeet organized at Sugarbeet Breeding Outpost of Indian

Institute of Sugarcane Research, Mukteshwar Campus, Nainital

IISR-Industry Interface on ‘Research and

Development Initiatives for Sugarbeet in India’ was

organized at the Sugarbeet Breeding Outpost of

Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research at IVRI,

Mukteshwar Campus, Distt. Nainital on May 28-29,

2013.Over fifty participants representing research

institutions, agricultural universities, sugar and seed

industries of six countries as Vietnam, Bangladesh,

Singapore, Belarus, Belgium and India attended the

interface. Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh, Director General

and Shri P V Ghodke Scientific Officer, Agronomy

represented VSI at the interface. The inaugural

function was chaired by Dr. J C Bhatt, Director, VPKAS,

Almora who highlighted the contribution of IISR,

Lucknow in sugarcane and sugarbeet research in

India and future role of sugarbeet in Indian

agriculture. He said that loose threads in adaptation

of sugar beet should be identified and efforts be

made to connect the same. Mr. Shivajirao Deshmukh

was chief guest and in his inaugural address he

appreciated the sugarbeet research efforts of IISR.

He said that sugarbeet will be required for future and

has to be made profitable to farmers for which

research should be continues with efforts to widen

the sugarbeet seed production industry in India. He

gave the examples of two success stories of Rana

Sugars and Renuka Sugars for sugarbeet cultivation

in India. Dr. B Pattanaik, Director, PDFMD,

Mukteshwar as guest of honour remarked about

association of sugarcane cultivation and foot mouth

disease in cattle in Maharashtra. Dr. A D Pathak,

Organizing Secretary, highlighted the importance of

sugarbeet in Indian agriculture and IISR efforts. All

issues pertaining to sugarbeet i.e. scientific,

professional and commercial were discussed in two

sessions (Research initiatives and Industry

perspectives). Total 18 scientific presentations were

delivered by scientists and industry personals. Mr. P

V Ghodke presented the sugarbeet research work

carried out by VSI and experience with processing

plant. The concluding session was chaired by Mr.

Shivajirao Deshmukh and co chaired by Dr. S Solomon,

Director IISR, Lucknow. The outcome of deliberations

is as follows:

� Sugarbeet will be required for future. We have to

be ready for those situations and research efforts

on sugarbeet in India should continue.

4



5

� Agro techniques for the sugarbeet cultivation as

well as its adaptation in saline/alkaline areas

should be worked in depth

� Present effort of Sugarbeet Outpost of IISR at

Mukteshwar be continued and industry should

support this activity. At least 10% of seed

requirement be produced in India.

� The awareness programme for profitability of

sugarbeet be made to sugar industries and

farmers. Renuka Sugars and Rana Sugars have

shown the way in this context.

� Promote sugarbeet as fodder crop till sugar

industries come forward

� Unfolding of potentials of sugarbeet for diverse

end uses as jaggery, biofuels, bioplastic,

molecules for pharmaceutical and bio CNG

� IISR and VSI should go together to factories with

diffusion plant and introduce sugarbeet and

encourage them to develop the capability to

process sugarbeet.

� Government should promote factories to

establish diffusion plant in those areas where

sugarcane is less

� Some exemption on import duties for seed and

machineries for sugarbeet processing and

cultivation be considered by government to

promote sugarbeet in India.



6

PARTICIPATION IN ISSCT CONGRESS

The Congress of the

International Society of

Sugar Cane Technologists

(ISSCT) is held once in

every three years. Brazil

hosted the XXVIII ISSCT

Congress for the third time

since its inception at Säo

Paulo from June 24- 27,

2013 and had pre and post-

congress tours in its

schedule. The conference

provided an excellent

opportunity for the scientists, technologists, sugar

factories, related industries and farmers to present

their research results, innovations, products,

machinery etc. and exchange of views for the

development of the sugar industry.

More than 850 professionals of different

disciplines from sixty countries participated in the

congress. It is commendable that 100 delegates from

India of which five were from Vasantdada Sugar

Institute participated in the same. In the inaugural

function of the congress on June 24, 2013, ISSCT

General Secretary Mr. Timothy John Murray, the

President of the congress Mr. Rubens Ometto S. Mello,

Honorary President of the congress and Ex. Minister

of Agriculture Mr. Roberto Rodrigueas, State Secretary

of Agricculture and supply, Mrs. Monika Bergamaschi

and Secretary General Mr. Jean Claude Autrey,

President of STAB, Mr. Jose Paulo Stupiello addressed

the gathering. The exhibition of sugar industry related

products was also organized at the congress venue

and about 50 exhibitors from different countries

displayed their products in the exhibition.

The following staff members from the Institute

participated in the congress.

1. Mr. S C Deshmukh, Director General

2. Mr. K R Patil, Head, Sugar Engineering Dept.

3. Mr. R V Dani, Head, Sugar Technology Dept.

4. Mr. S V Patil, Head, Alcohol Technology Dept.

5. Mr. P P Shinde, Scientist, Agricultural Engineering

There were different

plenary sessions and

poster presentations of

work on national &

international research and

technology development.

The Congress had

concurrent scientific

sessions at five locations

covering topics in

Agriculture, Sugar

processing, Industry,

Management and co-products etc. In the congress, VSI

team got an opportunity to learn from the technical

and institutional advances accomplished by other

countries. Discussions were also held about the

progress made throughout the Brazilian sugar industry

after establishment of payment of sugar cane based

on sucrose content. A number of recent innovations

were also highlighted aimed to bring cost saving and

increased productivity.

The entire event was held in three parts: pre-congress, main congress and post-congress.

Pre congress tour – I (Industrial Group)

The pre-congress tour was attended by 267

participants including Agricultural Scientists, Sugar-

ethanol Technologists, researchers and

representatives of the companies from several

countries. During this tour the farmer’s fields,

Research Institutions, Sugar Mills and Biofuel plants

were visited in the regions of Ribeirão Preto and

Piracicaba on June 20 and 21. The delegates were

divided in four groups as Agricultural Group 1 and 2,

Industrial Group and Sub-products / Agro business so

as to see the modern processes and advanced

technologies of sugar industry in Brazil.

The industrial group including Mr. K R Patil and Mr.

R V Dani visited following two factories during pre-

congress.

1. ALTA MOGIANA, 30,000 TCD

This mill started in 1984 with crushing capacity of

2,28,000 Tonnes of cane to produce 18 million liters



7

of ethanol. Presently after successive expansions,

the installed capacity corresponds to crushing of 6

million tonnes of sugar cane and production of 10.5

million bags of sugar, cogeneration of 144 million

units and providing energy to over 100 thousand

households. The factory has the following

certification; ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, ISO 14001, OHSAS,

BONSUCRO\ABRINQ

2. Delta Sucroenergia, 22,500 TCD

Delta sucroenergia crushing capacity is 10 million

tons of cane and is spread in the area of approx. 125

thousand hectares. This is the largest sugar and ethanol

producer in the state of Minas Gerais. 248 million litres

of ethanol was produced during last crushing season.

78.30 lakh bags of sugar produced during 2012-13

crushing season and 122 GWH power got exported. At

present about 6000 people are employed in and has

annual revenue more than 1.2 billion US Dollars.

PRE CONGRESS TOUR – II (Agricultural Group)

Mr. P P Shinde from VSI attended Agricultural Group

– 2 tour which visited the

following places

AGRO PASTORIL

PASCHOAL CAMPANELLI

A family company

founded in 1982 has its

head quarter located in the

town Bebedouro, in the

state of Sao Paulo. The

company started sugar

cane planting in 2001,

replacing the orange

cultivation. They showed

the visitors the cane cultivation practices followed at

their farm particularly sugarcane agriculture and

precision farming. In addition to the sugar cane

cultivation the company also breeds and raises

cattle’s. They plant corn, which is the base for the

animal food. The company is a model in the country

in terms of using accurate agricultural techniques and

performs the sugar cane cultivation operations, from

the soil preparation to the harvest of cane.

AGRONOMIC INSTITUTE OF COMPINAS (AIC)

(Sugarcane Research Center)

AIC is an Advanced Center for technological

research of sugarcane located in Ribeirão Preto in the

state of Säo Paulo. It has a schedule oriented

sugarcane research and development program

including genetic improvement, soil science, fertility

and plant nutrition, plant protection, biotechnology,

bioclimatology, crop science, statistics, agricultural

engineering and economics. During the visit, the

activities of laboratory of Biotechnology and the

Chamber of Photoperiod, from the center of MPB (pre-

sprouted seedling) production were shown. The

varieties selected for biomass production (energy

cane) were also shown to the visitors.

CANAVIEIRA TECHNOLOGY CENTER (CTC)

(Sugarcane Technology Center)

CTC is one of the most important sugar cane

technology research centers in the world set up in

Piracicaba, in São Paulo countryside. It was founded

in 1969 with the purpose of development of more

productive varieties and aggregating quality to sugar

and alcohol production. The visitors were shown the

hybridization and regional

selection technology which

produced CTC sugarcane

varieties of 9000 series

especially for the climate

and soils in Brazil. They had

a very good facility of

biotechnology and genetic

transformation of sugar

cane in the creation of high

performance varieties. The

center has also developed

technology for the ethanol

production from cellulosic raw materials.

Pre-Congress Tour – III (Co-products Group)

The co-products group consisting of about 60

delegates visited following three units. Mr. S C

Deshmukh & Mr. S V Patil were the group members

from VSI.

1. Bonfim Sugar Mill

The mill has crushing capacity of 28000 MT of

sugarcane/day and produce about 1.0 million liters of

ethanol/day. The balance quantity of sugarcane is

used to produce raw sugar.



Secondary juice and B-heavy molasses are

particularly used for ethanol production and venasse

(spent wash) is generated at a rate of 13 liters/liter

of ethanol produced. Vinasse is directly used for land

application at a rate of about 200 M3/hector

depending on the potash requirement of the soil.

Similarly, boiler ash and press mud cake is also used

for land application.

There are 12 sugar mills in the Raizen group and

the total cogeneration capacity of the group is 828 MW.

2. Usina Säo Manoel sugar mill

Usina Säo Manoel

produces mainly white

crystal sugar with

maximum ICUMSA 150 and

hydrous and anhydrous

ethanol, working with

typical production mix of

50 % sugar and 50 %

ethanol, sometimes

alternating this mix in the

55/45 range. The overall

production capacity of

Usina Säo Manoel is as

given below –

Crushing = 21,600 MT/day

Crystal Sugar = 30,000 bags/day

Anhydrous ethanol = 550,000 liters/day

Hydrous ethanol = 550,000 liters/day

Dry yeast = 15 MT/day

Process steam consumption =420 kg/ton of cane

The distillery unit has 4 prefermenters, 9 Alfa-

Laval make yeast separators and 3 sets of Cascade

Continuous Fermentation system. All fermenters

were closed type with CO2 washing/ recovery facility.

Hydrous ethanol distillation section capacity has a

total installed capacity of 1,100,000 liters per day

with three distillation units each comprising of

analyser/degasification column and rectification

column. No impure cut was drawn in the primary

distillation system.

The ethanol dehydration system has a molecular

sieve dehydration plant of 600 M3/day capacity.

Alcohol % in the fermenters was maintained at

around 8-8.5 % (v/v) concentration with all

fermenters operating under anaerobic conditions.

The vinasse was generated at a rate of 12-14 liters

per liter of ethanol produced at a brix of about 1.5 to 2.0°.

3. Amyris plant in Brotas.

Amyris is using its proprietary synthetic biology

platform to design microbes primarily yeast, and use

them as living factories in established fermentation

processes to convert plant soured sugars into

renewable hydrocarbons.

The Amyris Biofene fermentation process is

utilizing genetically engineered yeast strain to

produce about 2 million liters of fernesene by

fermentation from

sugarcane syrup. They have

established a state-of-art

fermentation facility which

operates under totally

aseptic conditions utilizing

pure yeast strain. The total

plant is PLC controlled with

automatic CIP, sterilization,

fermentation, distillation,

evaporation control

systems.

The fermenters are

operated in the fed-batch fermentation mode. The

fernesene (liquid) is separated after fermentation into

three fractions, i.e. dry yeast, vinasse and fernesene.

The fernesene is further purified by flash distillation

to 97 % concentration.

Vinasse after evaporation is generated at a rate

of 3.0 liters/liters of fernesene produced and used

for land application.

Fernesene (C15

) can be further hydrogenated to

produce high grade sulfur free diesel and is blended

with bio-diesel and petro-diesel.

Using Biofene as first commercial building block

molecule, Amyris is developing a wide range of

special chemicals and fuel products such as diesel

and jet fuels, Base oils, Industrial and auto lubricants,

polymers and plastic additives, flavours and

fragrances, sequalene, Isoprene etc.

VISIT TO SHREE RENUKA SUGAR MILL

The sugar and ethanol manufacturing unit of

Renuka Global ventures at Lins in Säo Paulo state

was visited by the VSI team on June 22, 2013. The

agricultural farm operations of mechanized

8



sugarcane planting and harvesting was witnessed

in the field. Sugar mill operations from cane feeding

to the production of end products of sugar and

ethanol was also witnessed by the team.

The crushing capacity of the plant is 28000 TCD.

There are two milling tandems having capacity 15000

TCD and 13,000 TCD each. The factory is producing

ethanol from 70% of its cane crushed and plantation

white sugar from remaining 30%. The surplus power

exported to national grid is 26.7 MW

MAIN CONGRESS

In the main congress session there was an

opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge on

technological developments. Various innovations in

the sugar industry were also presented.

During the main congress held from 24th June to

27th June 2013 total 189 papers were presented in

the plenary session covering 11 subjects. The brief

details of number of papers presented are as below;

· Agricultural Engineering - AE - 04

· Factory processing - FP - 19

· Agronomy - AG - 40

· Breeding - BB - 18

· Entomology - BE - 15

· Molecular biology - BM - 13

· Pathology - BP - 16

· Co-products - CO - 27

· Factory Engineering - FE - 15

· Management - MA - 10

· Plenary - PL - 12

Total - 189

From VSI, Mr. S V Patil made presentation in the

Co-products session and Mr. P P Shinde made

presentation in the Agricultural Engineering session.

Both the presentations made by VSI were appreciated

by the audience. Apart from the presentations, there

were also 151 poster presentations.

POST CONGRESS TOUR

The post congress tour was organized on June 28-

29, 2013 .For this tour the delegates were divided in

four groups i.e. Industrial Group 1 and 2, Agricultural

plantation group and Agricultural harvesting group.

Group – I :

Mr. P P Shinde attended Agricultural plantation

group which visited the following three implement

manufacturing units,

1. SERMAG industry

2. CIVEMASA industry

3. BALDAN industry

The above industries have the facilities for

manufacturing of various implements required for

sugarcane cultivation. The implements like sugarcane

planter, disc harrows, ploughs, land leveling

equipments, fertilizer application equipments and

spraying equipments are manufactured by these

industries and have network of marketing the same

in Brazil and nearby countries.

Group – II:

Mr. S C Deshmukh, Mr. K R Patil, Mr. R V Dani & Mr.

S V Patil visited the following industries during post-

congress tour.

1) Dedini Industry

The industry manufactures the complete range of

sugar and ethanol plant & machinery

• Cane transportation and unloading equipments.

• Milling plants of sizes ranging from 34" x 66" to

56" x 110" size mills.

• Diffusers – 7000 TCD to 18000 TCD.

• Cane preparation including fibrizer, shredder,

leveller, cutter & choppers.

• Boiling house equipments like falling film

evaporator, continuous pans, juice heaters,

crystallizers, centrifugal machines, hoppers, silos,

sugar packing & handling equipments.

• Distillery equipments & its machinery.

• Boilers having pressure range of 21 Ata g to 65 At

g. of stoker grate fired & bubbling fluidized bed

design.

2) Simisa Industry

It is ancillary industry manufacturing machinery for

sugar industry. It designs and supply assemblies for

mills, boilers, boiling house and distillery.

The manufacturing machinery set-up at Simasa has

machineries for manufacturing dished ends forming

and fermentation columns.

3) General Chains Industry :

The industrial unit has complete set-up for

manufacturing the industrial chains for cane carriers,

bagasse carriers & sprocket assembly required for

material handling.

The next congress of the ISSCT will be held in

Thailand in the year 2016.

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10

One day State Level Workshop on SSI / Drip

irrigation based sugarcane cultivation for selected

sugar factories in Maharashtra was organized by

NABARD, Pune at Vasantdada Sugar Institute on June

5, 2013. Mr. P K Behera, DGM NABARD, in his

welcome address stressed the role of NABARD in

promoting the improved cane cultivation

Producers Organization by Mr. Sharma from NABARD.

Mr. A S Deshmukh and Mr. P P Shinde Scientists from

Agricultural Engineering Section of VSI Pune also

participated in the programme and shared their

experience in drip irrigation with the delegates. About

45 representatives from 19 sugar factories including

Shri. Ganpatrao Tidke, Chairman, Bhaurao Chavan

technologies like drip irrigation in sugarcane through

sugar factories of the state. Dr. S Saravanavel, Chief

General Manager, NABARD Pune gave the key note

address highlighting the role of NABARD in providing

the loan @ 10% to sugar factories directly for the

pilot project on drip irrigation in sugarcane in the

context of increasing water and nutrient use

efficiency for sustainable sugarcane productivity. Mr.

D S Potdar from CSRS Padegaon, highlighted the

technical issues for successful adoption of drip

irrigation in sugarcane at factory level. Mr. Sinha, from

NABARD gave the detailed information about

Umbrella Programme on Natural Resource

Management (UPNRM) and requested the sugar

factories to submit their proposals for drip irrigation

in which the factories can get 10% grant for their

capacity building like HRD, transfer of technology

with the help of VSI. Another presentation was on

SSK, Nanded, Managing Directors of Madhukar SSK,

Jalgaon & Purna SSK, General Manager of Sant

Tukaram SSK, Pune, Chief Agriculture Officers & Cane

Development Officers participated in this workshop.

The delegates had fruitful interaction with NABARD

Officials regarding the financial matters and VSI

Scientists about technological details of surface and

subsurface drip, irrigation & fertigation scheduling for

sugarcane. Mr. K R Salve, AGM, NABARD proposed

vote of thanks.

State Level Workshop on SSI (Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative) / Drip irrigation based

Sugarcane cultivation for selected sugar factories in Maharashtra



Fourier Transform-Near Infra Red (FT-NIR)

Spectometer was installed in Alcohol Technology

Department during the

first week of June 2013.

Salient features and

utility of FT-NIR

instrument:

1. No sample

preparation is

required. Therefore,

expenditure on

chemicals required

for sample

preparation will be

saved.

2. Instrument can analyze solid, liquid, viscous and

powder samples.

INSTALLATION OF FT-NIR SPECTOMETER IN ALCOHOL TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

3. The analysis results are obtained in a minute.

Therefore, large number of samples can be tested

in shortest time.

4.Faster generation of

data required for

rendering services to

industry and Research &

Development will

become possible.

5. Instrument is equipped

with data acquisition,

storage, retrieval and

display facilities.

6. This is a secondary

analytical technique

that requires standard input data from primary/

conventional analysis.

7. This instrument can be used for routine analysis

of samples of sugarcane, juice, sugar, molasses,

fermentation broth, spirits, liquors, wines, beer etc.

CONDOLENCE

Mr. Vijay Patil who was working as a Clerk in the Accounts Section of VSI passed away on June

3, 2013 after a brief illness. VSI bulletin offers its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the

bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.

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12

TRAININGS

CUSTOMIZED TRAINING FOR ETHIOPIAN SUGAR CORPORATION

TRAININGS

Customized training courses for 57 technical and

agricultural staff of Ethiopian Sugar Corporation were

organized March 8, 2013 to June 12, 2013. This is

the second time that the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation

has sent their employees for customized training to

VSI. The details of the training are as follows

Sr. Programme No . ofNo. Trainees

1. Sugar Technology 17

2. Sugar Engineering 16

3. Electrical Engineering 08

4. Sugarcane Agronomy 16

Total Trainees 57



13

VSI conducts many short term training

programmes for personnel working the sugar industry

to enhance their working knowledge, vision to adopt

new technology and also guide the industries to

reform their normal functioning. This is a significant

achievement of VSI.

SHORT TERM TRAINING PROGRAMMES – JUNE 2013

Sr.No. Course Title Number of Trainees

1. Juice Clarification & Evaporation 64

2. Pan Boiling & Centrifugals 100

3. Boiler Attendant 35

4. Mill Foreman 31

5. Fermentation & Distillation techniques in distillery 43

6. Techniques in Analytical Instrumentation 26

7. Repairs & Maintenance of Sugar Factory Instruments. 58

8. Pollution Control and Environment Management in Sugar Factory 17

Total Trainees 374

The genuine effectiveness and practical utility of

these courses have been widely accepted and adopted

by the industries. Many industries treat this training

course as an essential criterion for granting

promotion to higher grade to trained employees. This

year the trainings were conducted during June 17-

28, 2013 and the details are given below

GLIMPSES OF MAHARASHTRA DAY CELEBRATION AT VSI



The importance of an Environment Officer in the

industry is now well understood. Many students who

complete their MSc in Environmental Sciences look

for a career in the industry however they are often

lacking in certain aspects. To address this problem

and to help the newly passed MSc students in this

aspect, the Department of Environmental Sciences,

VSI organized a 5 day residential training program on

“Industrial Pollution Control and Environmental

Management” from June 24-28, 2013.

The course covered the following broad areas 1.

Important criteria for selection and designing of ETP

2. Characterization and sampling 3. Methods of

treatment including aerobic, anaerobic and residuals

handling 4. Civil, electrical and mechanical

components of ETP 5. ETP Operation and maintenance

TRAINING ON INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION CONTROL ANDENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

6. Air pollution control devices, air monitoring

equipment and their operation 7. Solid and hazardous

waste management 8. Industrial safety 9. Procedures

of CPCB/SPCB’s- consent, ESR, HWR, cess returns 10.

Environmental clearance- procedures and

documentation 11. Green belt development.

Along with fresh post graduates, some

consultancy organizations also sent their personnel

for this training. The training and its contents were

appreciated by the participants.

14



A team of six scientists including three from

Bangladesh sugar corporation, two from Indian

Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow (State:

Uttarpradesh) and one from Sugarcane Research

Centre, Pravara,Dist: Ahmednagar visited VSI on June

1, 2013.

Dr. R S Hapase, Principal Scientist & Head, Plant

Breeding explained the activities carried out by VSIin

crop improvement division for the development of

sugarcane varieties for different agro-climatic zones

of Maharashtra State,

for which VSI

established Sugarcane

Breeding Centre at

Amboli in 2005. The

basic germplasm was

obtained from

Sugarcane Breeding

Institute, Coimbatore

by formulating MOU

between VSI and SBI.

The present released

sugarcane varieties

which include CoC 671

followed by CoVSI

9805, VSI 434 and pre-release of CoVSI 03102 are

spreading at a fast rate were developed by VSI. Plant

breeding section also contributed for the release of

Co 86032, Co 8014, Co94012, Co 92005 and CoM 065.

The visitors were happy to see the progress made by

VSI in research and expected the same for Bangladesh

after MOU with VSI to achieve similar results for

sugarcane yield and sugar recovery. Mr. Nikam,

Scientific Officer from Tissue Culture section gave

information regarding sugarcane tissue culture

micropropogation technique and its benefits to the

sugar Industry and sugarcane growers of Maharashtra

and neighbouring states. He also gave information

regarding varietal improvement through somaclonal

variation technique and banana micropropagation.

VISIT OF SCIENTISTS FROM BANGLADESH SUGAR CORPORATION

VISITORS TO VSIVISITORS TO VSI

Dr. Harinath Babu Sr.Scientist and Head, Molecular

Biology Genetic Engineering Section explained the

research programmes of the sections. Sectional

activities like sugarcane improvement through

transgenic approach and its importance in the

sugarcane improvement programme, identification

and isolation of genes and promoter from sugarcane

wild relative species and importance in the IPR issues

and DNA marker technology and helps in marker Aided

Selection were explained to them. In crop production

division, Mr. D B Phonde, Sr. Scientist and Head, Soil

Science section explained

research activities,

particularly research done

in the field of sulphur and

silicon; formulation of

liquid fertilizer and

extension activities. He

explained about

fertigation, fertilizer

briquette application and

foliar application of multi

micronutrient fertilizers

and soil management for

sustainable soil fertility

and productivity for improving fertilizer use efficiency.

During the visit to Library, Mr. N S Pathan, Librarian

showed the collection and briefed the services given

by Library to the users especially regarding sugarcane

cultivation and related subjects. The visitors were

impressed by the collection related to sugarcane and

allied industries. The queries raised by the visitors

were answered.

After completion of visits to various Department /

Sections, the team had a meeting with the Director

General regarding Bangladesh sugar industry . Mr. B

J Takalkar, Scientific Officer and Head, Agril.

Economics Section and Mr. P V Ghodke, Scientific

Officer, Agronomy Section accompanied the visitors

15



VISITORS TO VSI

16

Team from Kenya Sugar Industries interacting with

Mr. D R Takate from Alcohol Technology

Team from National Federation of Co-operative Sugar

Factories and U P Federation in tissue culture laboratory

Team from National Federation of Co-operative Sugar

Factories and U P Federation during the visit to VSI

Team from Jyothi College of Engineering,

Kanjirappally, Kerala



17

* Figures in brackets indicate number of visits

Name of Institution Visitors Total

April 2013

Miraj Taluka Agriculture Office, Dist: Kolhapur Officers and Farmers 52

Department of Chemistry, Annasaheb Magar College, Hadapsar, Pune Lecturers and Students 37

Modern College, Pune Students 9

Navapur Taluka Agriculture Office,Dist: Nandurbar Officers and Farmers 12

Shahada Taluka Agriculture OfficeDist: Nandurbar Officers and Farmers 10

PanhalaTaluka Agriculture OfficeDist: Kolhapur Officers and Farmers 50

Kej Taluka Agriculture Office,Dist: Beed Officers and Farmers 23

Farmers from Maharashtra Farmers 69 (17)

Farmers from other states Farmers 8 (1)

May 2013

Indian Sugar Mfg. Co. Ltd.,Unit – Havinal, Tal. Indi, Dist. Bijapur, Karnataka Officers and Farmers 60

Regional Institute of Vocational Guidance & Selection, Sadashiv Peth,Pune Trainee teachers 50

Shri.Sant Sant Kurmadas SSK Ltd.,Tal. Madha, Dist. Solapur AgricultureStaff 10

Rise and Shine Labrotory, Pune Faculty and Trainee 21


June 2013

Devala Taluka Agriculture Office,Dist: Nasik Officers and Farmers 82

Ashok SSK Ltd., Ashoknagar,Tal. Shrirampur, Dist. Ahmednagar Field Staff 78

Mukteshwar Sugar Mills Ltd,Post Shendurwada,Tal. Gangapur, Farmers 9

Dist. Aurangabad

College of Agriculture Business Management, Narayangaon,Dist. Pune Faculties and Students 72


Farmers from other states Farmers 7 (2)

Total : 773 (59)

INSTITUTIONAL VISITORS



18

LIBRARY UPDATE (APRIL. 2013 - JUNE 2013)LIBRARY UPDATE (APRIL 2013 - JUNE 2013)

1) Sugarcane pricing: Policy, procedure and

operations

- Jugale, V B

2) Environmental impact assessment : Practical

solutions to recurrent problems

- Lawrence, David P

3) Environmental impact statements : A com-

prehensive guide to project and strategic

planning

- Eccleston, Charles H

4) Groundwater geochemistry : Fundamentals

and applications to contamination

- Deutsch, William J

5) Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira): Physiology,

cell-biology and biotechnology

- Vonshak, Avigad

6) Industrial waste water treatment

- Patwardhan, A D

7) Joint seminar on water management in

sugarcane cultivation with respect to drip

irrigation and nutrient application held on

16th March 2013

- SISSTA & SHSSKN Sankeshwar, Karnataka

8) Sugarcane diseases & their management

- Viswanathan

9) AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010

- Finkelstein Ellen

10) Industrial solid wastes

- Patwardhan, A D

11) Concept of ecology

- Kormondy, E J

12) Solid waste engineering

- Vesilind, P A; Worrell, William, Reinhart, D

13) Ecological communities : Plant mediation in

indirect interaction webs

- Ohgushi, Takayuki; Craig,Timothy P; Price,

Peter W

14) Environmental management and industrial

development: Selected contributions of Dr. A K

A Rathi

- Rathi, A K A

15) Environmental law and policy in India: Cases,

materials and status

- Divan, Shyam; Rosencranz, A

vol. 12, issue - 4, december 2012 vol.-13, issue-2, july...

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