India’s sugar production output has recorded a 1.6 million tonnes or seven per cent decrease at 21.5 million tonnes during the April 2013 to March 2014 fiscal year, writes Jagdish Kumar.
During the same period last fiscal year, sugar production was 23.1 million tonnes, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement on March 31.
Even though 330 mills are crushing sugarcane as of 31st March, 2014, compared to 231 mills during the same period last year, the production decreased.
"The fall in production is due to poor yields and higher diversion of cane to alternate sweeteners manufacturing industry," ISMA statement said.
The association said that over $2.48 billion is yet to be paid to the farmers for the total produce purchased in the current sugar season to March 31, 2014, of which $1.73 billion pertains to Uttar Pradesh state and $547 million for Karnataka state alone.
Karnataka state recorded a positive growth of 12 per cent at 3.7 million tonnes due to better yields and good recovery to date, against 3.3 million tonnes during same time last year.
Uttar Pradesh state recorded a fall of 13 per cent during the fiscal year 5.8 million tonnes of sugarcane, as compared to 6.7 million tonnes of sugarcane crushed during the same period last year.
The drop was due to poor yields and higher diversion to the alternate sweeteners manufacturing industry, ISMA said.
Tamil Nadu state recorded the highest decrease of 28 per cent to 0.95 million tonnes during the period, followed by Maharashtra which produced only 7.1 million tonnes of sugar, as against 7.7 million tonnes, whereas Andhra Pradesh state produced 0.94 million tonnes of sugar as against 0.96 million tonnes recorded in the same period last year.
