Question

Sugarcane holds an important position among cash crops in India. Justify.

Answer 1

Sugarcane is an important cash crop which is crushed in the factories to produce sugar. A fairly large amount is also used to make gur and khandsari. Besides providing sugar, gur and khandsari, it also supplies many by products like molasses, bagasse and press mud. Molasses is used in the alcohol industry for the distillation of liquor (rum) , power alcohol, etc. It is also used in the production of certain chemicals and synthetic rubber.

Bagasse, the left over cane after crushing, is used for producing steam which is used as a source of power for sugar industry. It is also used for making cardboard, paper and insulation board. Press mud is utilised for making wax, carbon paper and shoe polish.