Published Paper Details:

Although sugarcane was being grown in India from the Vedic period and sugar was being produced from fourth century, there was no sugar industry in India. The modern sugar processing industry in India made its beginning in 1904 when the first vacuum pan process sugar plant was set up at Saran in Marhowrah in Bihar. The growth of the industry was slow till 1930 with only 30 sugar mills. To meet the domestic demand of sugar, India had to import sugar mainly from Java (Indonesia). In 1931, a Tariff Board was set up and the sugar industry was brought under protection. Since then sugar industry in India has experienced a long journey. Hence it would be useful to study the performance of sugar industry in India since evolution, particularly during two periods i.e. Pre Independence Period and Post Independence Period. Present paper aims to fulfil this need for study. To achieve the objectives of the study the paper made use of secondary data obtained from various reputed and reliable sources. Appropriate statistical tools like growth rates, coefficient of variation, averages, charts, graphs and tables have been applied wherever find necessary. Besides to test the significance of compound annual growth rate semi log regression model has been applied and results have been drawn with the help of p and t values. Paper suggests that it will be the efficiency and paying capacity of the sugar mills that will govern the sustainability of the sugar industry. Without improving the efficiency in operations whether it is sugarcane cultivation or sugar processing, the paying capacity of the sugar mills cannot be improved. Efficient utilization of by products, capacity utilization, modernization of machinery and diversification would be the key factors to improve the performance of this industry.