Crushing it: Punjab dishes out breakfast sugar from Batala mill, refines industry on the double
Punjab has launched the production of double-refined sugar at Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill, offering higher purity and solubility, ideal for beverages and baked goods. The state plans to enter the pharmaceutical-grade sugar market, enhancing the mill’s financial viability and benefiting farmers. With a crushing capacity of 3,500 tonnes daily, expandable to 5,000, the initiative aims to boost sugarcane cultivation and employment. The area under sugarcane farming has grown to 1 lakh hectares, with further expansion expected.
With box attached in CCIChandigarh: Punjab has initiated the production of double-refined sugar, a premium product known for its high purity and uniform texture, at the co-operative sugar mill in Batala. Dubbed ‘new’ or ‘breakfast’ sugar, it undergoes an advanced refining process to remove impurities and achieve superior quality. The state also plans to enter the pharmaceutical-grade sugar market, further expanding its sugar production capabilities.Better price, financial gainThe production of double-refined and pharmaceutical-grade sugar is expected to fetch better prices for sugarcane growers and improve the financial health of the Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill. A key benefit of double-refined sugar is its enhanced solubility. Its finer texture ensures quicker and more complete dissolution in liquids, making it ideal for beverages, premixes, and baked goods.
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had inaugurated the upgraded Batala sugar mill worth Rs 296 crore on Dec 6 in Gurdaspur. Operational since 1963, the mill is now the first in Punjab to produce double-refined sugar. Managing director of Sugarfed, Senu Duggal, stated that the ongoing crushing activity at the mill had led to higher returns already, with refined sugar selling for Rs 4,007 a quintal this season.Duggal said: “The state govt decided to install a new sugar plant in Batala because the area has high potential for sugarcane cultivation, supported by suitable climatic conditions.
The plant has a daily cane-crushing capacity of 3,500 tonnes, expandable up to 5,000 tonnes, which is being used to produce double-refined sugar.”Pharma sugar nextThe state aims to produce pharmaceutical-grade sugar, a refined product used in medicines and pharmaceutical products to enhance taste, viscosity, and shelf life. Pharma sugar, derived from sugarcane or beet, is purer than conventional sugar. Its production is expected to improve the mill’s financial condition significantly and ensure better returns for growers.More cultivationThe sugarcane crushing season in Punjab began on Nov 25, 2024. With 15 sugar mills in operation — nine co-operative and six private — the state is projected to crush around 700 lakh quintals of sugarcane and produce 62 lakh quintals of sugar, marking a 5% increase over last year.
The area under sugarcane cultivation has also grown to 1 lakh hectares, up from 95,000 hectares in 2023.Employment growthThe number of bonded sugarcane growers has increased to 3,014 and is expected to rise to 4,500 in the next crushing season. Additionally, the Batala mill has provided direct employment to 650 youth during the current season. Officials project that the area under sugarcane cultivation could expand to between 7,000 and 7,500 hectares in the coming years.boxSnapshot of ProgressNew Product | Double-refined sugar launched at Batala millFuture Expansion | Plans to produce pharmaceutical-grade sugarFinancial Boost | Higher prices for growers and improved mill financesEmployment | 650 youth employed at Batala mill during crushing seasonCultivation Growth | Sugarcane farming area expanded to 1 lakh hectares MSID:: 117553122 413 |With box attached in CCIChandigarh: Punjab has initiated the production of double-refined sugar, a premium product known for its high purity and uniform texture, at the co-operative sugar mill in Batala. Dubbed ‘new’ or ‘breakfast’ sugar, it undergoes an advanced refining process to remove impurities and achieve superior quality. The state also plans to enter the pharmaceutical-grade sugar market, further expanding its sugar production capabilities.Better price, financial gainThe production of double-refined and pharmaceutical-grade sugar is expected to fetch better prices for sugarcane growers and improve the financial health of the Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill. A key benefit of double-refined sugar is its enhanced solubility.
Its finer texture ensures quicker and more complete dissolution in liquids, making it ideal for beverages, premixes, and baked goods.Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had inaugurated the upgraded Batala sugar mill worth Rs 296 crore on Dec 6 in Gurdaspur. Operational since 1963, the mill is now the first in Punjab to produce double-refined sugar. Managing director of Sugarfed, Senu Duggal, stated that the ongoing crushing activity at the mill had led to higher returns already, with refined sugar selling for Rs 4,007 a quintal this season.Duggal said: “The state govt decided to install a new sugar plant in Batala because the area has high potential for sugarcane cultivation, supported by suitable climatic conditions. The plant has a daily cane-crushing capacity of 3,500 tonnes, expandable up to 5,000 tonnes, which is being used to produce double-refined sugar.”Pharma sugar nextThe state aims to produce pharmaceutical-grade sugar, a refined product used in medicines and pharmaceutical products to enhance taste, viscosity, and shelf life. Pharma sugar, derived from sugarcane or beet, is purer than conventional sugar. Its production is expected to improve the mill’s financial condition significantly and ensure better returns for growers.More cultivationThe sugarcane crushing season in Punjab began on Nov 25, 2024. With 15 sugar mills in operation — nine co-operative and six private — the state is projected to crush around 700 lakh quintals of sugarcane and produce 62 lakh quintals of sugar, marking a 5% increase over last year. The area under sugarcane cultivation has also grown to 1 lakh hectares, up from 95,000 hectares in 2023.Employment growthThe number of bonded sugarcane growers has increased to 3,014 and is expected to rise to 4,500 in the next crushing season.
Additionally, the Batala mill has provided direct employment to 650 youth during the current season. Officials project that the area under sugarcane cultivation could expand to between 7,000 and 7,500 hectares in the coming years.boxSnapshot of ProgressNew Product | Double-refined sugar launched at Batala millFuture Expansion | Plans to produce pharmaceutical-grade sugarFinancial Boost | Higher prices for growers and improved mill financesEmployment | 650 youth employed at Batala mill during crushing seasonCultivation Growth.
Source : The Times Of India
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