A harvester is used to harvest sugarcane in Ia Pa district, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam will keep its sugarcane growing area stable at 300,000 hectares until2030 in parallel with increasing sugar output and quality, according to a planon the sugar industry’s development until 2020 with a vision to 2030.
The plan, recently approved by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD), aims to promote the industry’scompetitiveness and sustainable development while meeting domestic consumptiondemand and gradually moving towards export.
Accordingly, from now to 2020, the country willensure sugarcane production at more than 20 million tonnes and sugar output at2 million tonnes, including 1.3 million tonnes of refined sugar.
During this period, it will not build new sugarfactories but only increase the capacity of existing plants in the areas ableto further develop sugarcane farming. Total designed capacity of factories willbe at 174,000 tonnes of sugarcane each day. The sector is set to investresources in reforming equipment and technology to increase the rates of whiteand refined sugar.
The MARD targets that by 2020, at least 70percent of factories and factory clusters will be able to process over 4,000tonnes of sugarcane per day. About 5.5 million tonnes or 90 percent of bagassewill be used to produce 1.1 million kWh of electricity every year.
By 2030, sugarcane and sugar output will berespectively increased to 24 million tonnes and 2.5 million tonnes, and morethan 90 percent of factories will process at least 4,000 tonnes of sugarcaneeach day. The industry is expected to recycle 7 million tonnes or 91 percent ofbagasse annually to produce 1.5 – 1.6 billion kWh of electricity.
Under the plan, the agricultural sector will movefactories from the areas unable to ensure material supply to more favourableregions. It will align the product structure with international standards andassist plants to diversify sugar products.
While the Vietnam Sugarcane and SugarAssociation will have to improve its role in controlling sugar materials,wholesale, retail and export prices, activities will be stepped up to preventsugar smuggling and update the industry on the global sugar market.
The agricultural sector will also work todevelop good sugarcane varieties and boost farming mechanisation.-VNA
VNA
