The country has crushed more than 830 lakh tonne of sugarcane to produce 79.60 lakh tonne of sugar with 496 mills in operation till December 31, 2012.
The sugar production is about 2.5 per cent higher than last year. However, about 12 more mills were operational during the corresponding period last year, according to a report by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).
Uttar Pradesh has produced 19.25 lakh tonne of sugar, at 8.74 per cent recovery. The sugar production is about 11 per cent less than the last year sugar production during this period but with same recovery. Initial pace in recovery gain has been lost due to arrival of stale sugarcane from farmers’ field. Moreover, farmers are in hurry to sow wheat by clearing their sugarcane ratoon fields.
Abinash Verma, director-general, ISMA, said, “Till date 121 sugar mills were operational in Uttar Pradesh, which was less by one sugar mill operational last year during this period.”
Maharashtra has produced 29.07 lakh tonne of sugar, which is about 4 per cent higher than last year, this is due to early starting of sugarcane crushing season with better operational utilisation of sugar mills. The recovery from sugarcane was same as that of last year, which was about 10.46 per cent.
About Maharashtra state crushing, Verma added, “Till date 161 sugar mills were operational in the state which was lesser by 6 sugar mills during last year. The reason for slowing pace in recovery revival over last year in Maharashtra was because of partially dry cane arrival to sugar mills.”
“ISMA has projected 65 lakh tonne of sugar production in their first advance estimates for the state. Pune division (comprises districts like Satara, Pune and Solapur), which was badly affected with drought like conditions, had produced 11.77 lakh tonne of sugar with 51 sugar mills in operation till date. This year, more number of private factories were in operation as compared to last year i.e. about 56 private sugar mills in operation this year, as compared to 49 private sugar mills last year, during this period. Private sugar mills produce about 23 per cent of sugar in the state.”
Karnataka has produced 15.50 lakh tonne which is about 17% higher than last year, with same number of 56 operational sugar mills as that of last year. This year to date recovery is slightly better than last year i.e. 9.87% sugar recovery till Dec 31, 2012. Tamil Nadu has produced 3 lakh tonne of sugar with 38 operational mills, which is same as that of last year. Andhra Pradesh with 33 operational sugar mills has produced 3.28 lakh tonne of sugar, which is about 12% higher than the last year during this period.
Verma informed, “This year we have taken the help of advanced technology like satellite mapping and intensive field visits by our experts to substantiate the sugar production figures for the season. In our first advance estimates we projected 240 lakh tonne of sugar production and are still at the same estimate for the season as of today.”
ISMA will be reviewing the situation by mid of January 2013, with freshly procured satellite images of January 2013 regarding sugarcane harvested and come up with second estimates for the season. By this time, ratoon plant from Uttar Pradesh and plant of Adsali and pre-seasonal from Maharashtra will be harvested from farmers field, giving a better idea of the crop this season.
