Bengaluru: The Sugar Technology Department at the Mandya Postgraduate Centre will now enjoy the full-time Study Centre status, which is expected to further the growth of sugar industry in Mandya and across the state.
With this, the department will be able to take up further R&D of the sugar industry in the state. The decision was taken at a University Syndicate meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor G. Hemanth Kumar last Friday.
The department was given the status as there is a big demand from sugar industries and farmers, and also it will ensure supply of quality staff to the sugar industry, said Prof Kumar.
The University launched the course in 1994-95, which was the first of its kind in the country. But the PG Centre situated at Tubinakere has been granted the study centre status after the National Institute of Sugar (NIS) in Uttar Pradesh.
Industry experts said that this status will help around 670 sugar mills in the country, including 73 in Karnataka – which is the third largest producer of sugar in the country.
Since Mysore University started the course, over 200 experts have been trained and they are working as executives managing sugar processing units in various factories across the country.
Students who have studied chemistry as one of the major subjects in their B.Sc can take up this course, which is of four-semester duration, and the maximum intake of students is limited to 15 per year.
Students are taught sugar engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, sugar chemistry, statistical quantity, sugarcane agriculture, industrial management and sugar manufacturing.
These students have in turn trained many farmers to take up organic jaggery making across the state. It is mandatory for all students to visit the local sugar factory to have a firsthand practical experience, said M.P. Manohar, Associate Professor, MSc Sugar Technology, UoM. These students have in turn trained many farmers to take up organic jaggery making across the state. It is mandatory for all students to visit the local sugar factory to have a firsthand practical.
