Sugar industry in Guangxi develops rapidly

The sugar industry of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has continued to develop rapidly since its establishment 60 years ago. Current sugar production accounts for about 60 percent of the country's total output.

Guangxi sugar cane production faced problems of high planting cost, low mechanization level and low comprehensive utilization rate for a long time.

In order to improve the competitiveness of the sugar industry and ensure the safety of sugar in the country, Guangxi has vigorously promoted the structural reform of the sugar supply side in recent years.

In February 2014, Guangxi launched a pilot project to build high-quality and high-output sugar cane bases. In 2015, the relevant state departments jointly issued the "Production and Development Plan for Sugar Cane Main Production Areas (2015-2020)".

After the completion of the construction of 5 million mu (333,333.33 hectares) of high-quality and high-output sugar cane base, the sugar cane planting cost in Guangxi is expected to decrease by about 150 yuan ($21.62) per metric ton.

Guangxi has enhanced management measures such as soil testing and intelligent water and fertilizer integration based on water conservancy, as well as planting high-quality and high-output varieties, using new cultivation techniques and ensuring the biological control of pests and diseases, promoting further increases in sugar cane yield.

In addition, Guangxi continues to support the development of sugar enterprises, encourage mergers and acquisitions, and develop the industries of alcohol, yeast, paper, bio-organic fertilizer and more.

In terms of total sugar production value, the comprehensive utilization value of the sugar industry accounts for more than 40 percent, and the production of bagasse pulp and paper and the electric energy production of bagasse are among the highest in the country.

In the 2017/2018 crop season, the Guangxi sugar cane planting area was 11.4 million mu, a year-on-year increase of 200,000 mu; sugar cane entering factories hit 50.83 million tons, an increase of 7.83 million tons; sugar output was at 6.03 million tons, an increase of 730,000 tons; and farmers' sugar cane income reached 25.9 billion yuan, an increase of about 4.4 billion yuan.

As of Oct 15 this year, Guangxi completed a high-quality and high-output sugar cane base land reclamation of 4.22 million mu.