The South Indian Sugar and Sugarcane Technologists' Association (SISSTA) presents awards during its annual conventions to promote, recognize and acknowledge best scientific development and technical performance in the field and factory in south India. The awards have been instituted in memory of the renowned sugar technologist Late Shri S.V.Parthasarathy. 

This year, SISSTA's annual convention was held in Chennai and awards were given on 27th September 2004. For the 2003-2004 Sugar year, E.I.D. Parry's Pudukkottai sugar factory has bagged the Best Cane Development Award. The award was presented by Mr.Nainar Nagendran, Minister for Industries in the presence of Mr.Pandurengan, Minister for Agriculture and was received by Mr. Ramesh Ponnuswami, General Works Manager and Mr. M. Krishnan, Senior Manager (Cane) of Pudukkottai sugar factory. 

Parry set up the greenfield sugar factory at Pudukottai in 2000, with a command area that was passed off by many others in the past as not being suited for cane growing. Against all odds, the rate of growth in the sugar cane area of the factory has been one of the fastest the sugar industry has seen. The sustained growth in the factory's cane area has been admired by many in the industry. Behind the scene is an enthusiastic and dedicated team covering cane operations, extension, research and development, and farmer training. The team's relentless focus on timely and comprehensive service to farmers, its ability to take stretch targets and deliver, support from the community at large, the vision and focus brought in by the senior management and all round support from within the organisation have all made it possible for the team to achieve this milestone.

The can(e) team at Pudukottai is now poised to grow in an accelerated manner, aiming for reaching 10 lakhs tons of cane within the next three years (from the peak of 7.25 lakhs tons last year). The factory is also set to become an integrated sugar complex in the near future with plans for an 18 MW electricity cogeneration plant and fuel ethanol production facility.