Feasibility study on

Cultivation of STEVIA
and
Extraction of sweeteners from STEVIA

By
Sudheer Gondu

( Note: All the information presented here has been obtained from internet source only )

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 Contents of This Study
• Agricultural Aspects

• Industrial Aspects

• Commercialization Aspects

 Agricultural Aspects
• Technical Aspects: Crop cycle, Type of seed (Gene specification) and germination, Fertilizers and Pesticides, Water supply, Suitability
of environment for the crop, suitability of Soil Type(fertility/soil test), Machinery/Equipment,

• Economical Aspects: Seed cost, cost of water supply(fuel), cost of Fertilizers and Pesticides, Laboring cost at every stage, Yield,
Transportation cost, selling price of crop,

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 Contents of Study
 Industrial Aspects
• Focus on the required compound/matter in the material of crop

• Analysis of the crop material/matter: Proximate / Ultimate analysis, Composition Analysis by analytical methods (Brix-% or

Refractometers (refractive index)), Qualitative and Quantitative (Chemical) analysis,

• Obtain the PhysicoChemical, Thermal and mechanical properties of the all materials handling in the manufacturing process

• Local availability of raw materials and other utility materials (Electricity, fuel, water, seawater and transportation facilities) for

running the plant

• Selection of manufacturing Technology or process or process synthesis (Care should be taken on Patent rights and legal law issues,

Taxes, prohibition on some materials for production, import and export, and Environmental issues)

• Classification of Major-Products and By-products in the manufacturing process

• QC analysis : Compliance of product norms as per local government

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 Contents of Study
 Commercialization Aspects
• Product uniqueness, advantage over competitive products (Technically advantaged material for other processes, Health benefits,

low cost)

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 Parameters in Agriculture
• Season: Rabhi (Winter) or khariff (Mansoon)
• Soil type and Soil preparation for cultivation
• Type of cultivation: Inter / Intra (Major crop and Minor crop) / Multi-crop
• Seed Type and kind of germination
• Crop Type: Initial/1st ratooning/2nd ratooning
• Cost of external supplements per kg: Fertilizer, Pesticide, and fuel for water supply
• Labor cost for weed removal, fertilizing and pesticiding and water supply per area
• No. of times water, fertilizers and pesticides supplied per crop-cycle,
• Record the following details in every week: the time span between each supplement, at what time of the plant growth supplements
provided; temperature, humidity, water content in the soil
• Crop cycle (months) (keep in mind of transplantation)
• Cost of Harvesting per acre
• Transportation cost at every stage of cultivation
• Yield of the crop ( ?? tons or kgs / acre)
• Cost of the crop (millers / govt / market) = 290 rs/Quintal of sugarcane (govt rate)
• Profit5/20/22
per acre per year?? 5
 SugarCANE - 1
• Depending upon the variety and sowing time it takes about 12 to 18 months  for sugarcane to mature. Generaly January to march is the
period of sowing and December to March is the period of harvesting. After harvest, generally a ratoon crop is cultivated from the re-
growth. A Ratoon Crop is the new cane which grows from the stubble left behind are harvesting. Taking one ratoon after normal
planted crop is a common practice in India. In some countries 2-6 ratoon crops are allowed.

• The crushing season in the country starts from October, when the ratoon crop of previous year’s plantation is harvested, and reaches
its peak in January before finally ending in March or April of the next year. But based on cane availability, the start of the crushing
season may postponed by one to one and a half months in different states of the country.

• Sugarcane is a long duration, high water and high nutrient-demanding crop. Sugarcane is grown under wide range of climate, ranging
from sub-tropical to tropical conditions. Temperatures above 50°C and below 20°C are not suitable for its growth. For optimum
productivity it requires 750-1200 mm of rainfall during its entire growth period. Well drained alluvial to medium black cotton soils with
neutral pH (6.0 – 7.0) and optimum depth (>60 cm) are good for sugarcane growth. Optimum productivity is also being obtained in
sandy to sandy-loam soils with near neutral pH under assured irrigated conditions of North India.
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 SugarCANE - 2
• The amount of sucrose depends on many factors, such as temperature, altitude, soil fertility, climate, and yield management. Higher sugar content in
the base sugarcane juice leads to a higher yield of finished sugar.

• The Brix percentage is a measure of the sucrose, or sugar content. One degree Brix  is equal to one gram of sucrose in 100 grams of
solution(sugarcane juice).

• This means that a solution that's 20% Brix is equal to 20% sucrose. 

• Different types of sugarcane can differ greatly in their sucrose levels; sucrose content can vary from 15% Brix to 23% Brix. Sugarcane with a Brix
percentage closer to 23% Brix is considered to produce the highest quality of cane sugar.

• Refractometer for Sugar Analysis

• Typically, Brix is determined by refractive index. When dissolved solids such as sugar increase, the refractive index increases. This allows us to use
refractometers to measure a variety of different compounds. Refractometers work particularly well on sugarcane since virtually all of the dissolved
solids in the juice are sucrose. 

• Cane is harvested after 12 to 18 months for most plant crops, after 12 months for ratoon crops.

• 95 kgs 5/20/22
of sugar per one ton of sugarcane (Ref: BRM) 7
 SugarCANE-3
• A sugar manufacturer must follow stringent rules that are outlined by the International Commission for Uniform Methods
of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) in order to remain successful in the industry.

• Distillery industry: Distilleries are agriculture-based industries that utilize agro produce. i.e., sugar cane juice and molasses,
wheat, rice, barley, sugar beet molasses, cassava, and corn (Wilkie et al., 2000; Kawa-Rygielska et al., 2007). This generates
huge quantities of wastewater known as spent wash. For every liter of alcohol produced, 10–15 L of wastewater is
generated. Waste is generated at various stages of manufacturing (distillation; cooling in condenser and fermenter;
fermentation and washing) and its characteristics depend on feedstock used in industry. It is dark in color with low pH,
high temperature and high percentage of organic as well inorganic matter.

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 Rough Balance Sheet (Per Acre)
SugarCANE Stevia (Dry Leaves)
Crop Cycle (Months) 12-18 4
Yield ( MT per Acre per year) 31.500 2.5
Crop cost ( Rs per MT) 2,900 1,00,000
Revenue Generated 91,350 2,50,000
Steviol (kg per crop per year)
Sucrose (kg per crop per year)
Cost ( Rs per Kg)
Sweetener content Sucrose- 95 kg/ton of sugarcane Steviol – (9-14 ) kg/100 kg of Dry
Leaves

• In financial year 2020, the yield of sugarcane produced across India was estimated to be approximately 78 metric tons per hectare.
organic as well inorganic matter (= 31500 kgs/ acre). 290 Rs per Quintal of sugarcane = 2900 Rs per MT of sugarcane.
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 Sugar Industry by-products
• Distillaries, Ethanol production (bio fuels), Molasis, Fertilizer, seeds of sugarcane, Biogas, Bagasse(Biomass),Syrups

• Colour and odour removal to made Sweetener white ??? (Solid form)

Important Websites for sugarcane

http://www.upcane.org/sis/en/index. www.sugarcaneweb.co.uk http://www.sugarindia.com/glossary.

asp htm

www.bonsucro.com http://www.fcamin.nic.in/dfpd_html/i http://ncdc.nic.in/index.php

ndex.asp
http://www.coopsugar.org http://www.indiansugar.com www.sugarbazar.com
http://nsi.gov.in http://www.issct.org http://www.indiansugar.com

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 Sugarcane breeding institute

• http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/sugar/botany&climate.html

• https://www.sugarprocesstech.com/daily-manufacturing-report-dmr/

• 1 metric ton= 1.1 tonne = 997.9 kg ~ 1000 kg

• 1 tonne = 907.18 kg

• 1 hectare = 2.471 Acre

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 Balance sheet stevia

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 • https://www.purecirclesteviainstitute.com/about-stevia/what-is-stevia
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Possible Stevia by-products -1

• Stevioside = 300 x sweeter than saccharose

• Rebaudioside A = 450 x sweeter than saccharose

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Possible Stevia by-products -2

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Possible Stevia by-products-3

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Possible Stevia by-products-4

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Possible Stevia by-products -5

• DM – dry matter;

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 References

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 Summary
• Stevia cultivation delivers more earnings than sugarcane

• Guidance from the experienced in this field is necessary to take further proceedings in this project

Future Work
• In depth technical feasibility study should be done on extraction process and practical implication on the field.

• Botanical knowledge, Disease concerns of the plant and their control, why not yet successful as a commercial crop ? Any crop protection
technology (poly-house, etc)?

• Reason for bitter aftertaste in STEVIA, (Chemicals???)

• Possibility of production of any other commercial by-products : Vitamins, Minerals,Proteins

• Technical Terminology and

• Equipment Procurement information

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 Thank you

?Questionary ?
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