New Delhi: In the current crushing season 2019-20 (October-September), which started from October 1, 2019, the production of sugar in the country declined by 22.67 percent till February 15, the total production was only 169.85 lakh tonnes. Sugar production in Maharashtra and Karnataka registered a steep decline, while Uttar Pradesh increased.
According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the sugar production till February 15 has been only 169.85 lakh tonnes as compared to 219.66 lakh tonnes by this time last year. At present, crushing is going on in 449 sugar mills across the country and crushing in 23 sugar mills has stopped. Last year, crushing was going on in 521 sugar mills at this time.
According to ISMA, sugarcane crop suffered heavy losses in Maharashtra as well as Karnataka due to drought, floods and unseasonal rains, leading to a steep decline in sugar production in these states compared to last year. As of 15 February, sugar production in Maharashtra declined by 47.71 per cent to a total of 43.39 lakh tonnes, while the state had produced 82.98 lakh tonnes of sugar in the same period of the last crushing season.
Crushing was going on in 143 sugar mills in the state, out of which crushing has stopped in 8 sugar mills. Karnataka has produced only 30.80 lakh tonnes of sugar in the current crushing season, down from 38.74 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. Crushing started in 63 sugar mills in the state, out of which crushing has stopped in 13 sugar mills.
In the current crushing season, the production of sugar in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 66.34 lakh tonnes of sugar whereas last year the state had produced only 63.93 lakh tonnes. Crushing is going on in 119 sugar mills in the state, compared to 117 mills in the same period last year.
Sugar production in the current crushing season in Tamil Nadu has come down to 2.60 lakh tonnes till February 15, while in the previous crushing season, 3.85 lakh tonnes of sugar had been produced by this time.
