The many roles of sugarcane in India and the world, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Genomic analysis of 390 sugarcane breeds from various countries was conducted, revealing their hybrid nature due to human-mediated transport.
• India is a major sugarcane producer with top states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
• In 2024-2025, India produced approximately 4,400 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.
• Sugarcane is used for sweetness, bioethanol production, and in traditional medicine in countries like China, India, and Pakistan.
• Research institutes in India, such as the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, are working to improve sugarcane variety and yield.

Detailed Insights:

• Sugarcane's polyploidy resulted from commercial transport by human breeders across states and countries.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established sugar research institutes to enhance sugarcane through botanical and molecular methods.
• A 2006 study by the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore found that Arunachal Pradesh had the most diverse sugarcane breeds in India.
• Traditional medicine practitioners in China, India, and Pakistan use sugarcane in their therapies.
• Sugarcane is being explored for its medicinal value and sustainable development potential, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine.
• India is utilizing sugarcane wastes, rice, and wheat to manufacture bioethanol, promoting a greener alternative to fossil fuels.
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has initiated bioethanol production in Assam, contributing to India's green energy initiatives.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Polyploidy: A condition in which a cell or organism has more than two sets of chromosomes.
• Bioethanol: A renewable fuel made from various forms of biomass, often used as an alternative to gasoline.
• Genetic Diversity: The variety of genes within a species, crucial for adaptation and resilience.