Sugarcane -Cash Crops of India

March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Sugarcane is a grass plant that grows up to 2.5 meters, yielding fleshy sappy stem, from which sugar is produced.

In India, sugarcane seedlings are planted in plantations. The harvesting time is when the leaves starting drying off. In some places the whole sugar cane plantation is set on fire. The dry leaves quickly burn down. The fleshy cane remains unaffected, which is cut at the base. The sugarcane thus harvested in then sent to extraction of sugarcane juice from the stem followed by refining. The refined sugar is 99% sucrose, a combination of glucose and fructose.

Jaggery is also produced from sugarcane.

The cane from which sugar is extracted is used for production of paper.

The people of the areas of sugarcane production also make several drinks and preparations with sugarcane extracts. Sugarcane juice is prepared by crushing the sugarcane in a hand operated mill and added with some lemon and ice. This is a delicious drink at country festivals and fairs.