(FE)
However, despite the fall, there is no cause for worry, as the country is still expected to end the season with almost 96 lakh tonne stock in hand, thanks mainly to Uttar Pradesh, the country’s largest sugar producing state. While Maharashtra and Karnataka, the two main sugarcane growing states, have been adversely impacted due to a less than normal rainfall, UP has been able to hold fort and has actually increased its sugar production by almost 13% this year as compared to the same period last year.
According to figures obtained from the UP sugar and cane department, the 119 sugar mills in the state have crushed 2,000 lakh quintal of cane till December 13, as against 1,716 lakh quintal during the same period last year, producing 205 lakh quintal of sugar as compared to last year’s 181 lakh quintal. In percentage terms, the increase in sugar production is nearly 13%. Speaking to FE, a miller, requesting anonymity, said that while last year the country’s sugar production was around 332 lakh tonne, this year’s production is estimated at 260 lakh tonne.
