India is the largest producer of sugar in the world. In terms of sugarcane production, India and Brazil are almost equally

placed. In Brazil, out of the total cane available for crushing, 45% goes for sugar production and 55% for the production

of ethanol directly from sugarcane juice. This gives the sugar industry in Brazil an additional flexibility to adjust its

sugar production keeping in view the sugar price in the international market as nearly 40% of the sugar output is

exported. The annual projected growth rate in the area under sugarcane at 1.5% per annum has doubled during the last

five years. This is because it is considered to be an assured cash crop with good returns to the farmers vis-a-vis other

competing crops. A supply of good quality low cost seed can be an effective means of improving production; even in the

absence of new and better varieties, adequate supplies of reliable seed of existing varieties would have a favorable effect.

In addition the effect of plant breeding on production will depend on the efficiency of seed distribution: only if the

improved varieties reach the farmer through a reliable seed distribution channel will be able to use them effectively to

produce more.

Key Words: Micro-propagation, Seed production, Sugar, Sugarcane, Tissue culture