Although the new sugarcane crushing season has started a bit early across the country, the pace of actual sugarcane & sugar production is slower than last year , says a press release from the apex co-op body the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited representing the Cooperative Sugar industry across the nation.
By the end of November 15, 263 sugar factories across the country have started their crushing season as against last year’s 317 factories which had started the season on corresponding date of 15th November, it says.
Cane crushing attained is 162 lakh tonnes which is less than last year by 84 lakh tonnes. Obviously, the new sugar production of 12.75 lakh tonnes is 7.25 lakh tonnes lesser than the 20 lakh tonnes recorded till this date last year. The average sugar recovery achieved is also lesser by 0.35%
This year sugar factories in Uttar Pradesh started for the first time in the month of October. But the sugar season in Karnataka and Maharashtra started after November 1st “As a result of sugarcane price agitation in western Maharashtra, the factories in that area are not operating at full capacity even after the opening of the season has been ceremoniously performed on Muhurat,” said Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director of the National Cooperative Sugar Federation.
Due to the change in the climate as a result of the El Nino effect, this year’s sugarcane and sugar production is expected to be lower than last year.
Last year the net production of sugar was 339 lakh tonnes after subsumption of 43 lakh tonnes of sugar in ethanol production. But this year, the estimated production of sugar will be around 291 lakh tonnes after diverting 40 lakh tonnes of sugar for Ethanol production.
A cursory look at the ongoing crushing season reveals that 75 mills in Uttar Pradesh are on stream & have crushed 39.53 Lakh Tons cane to produce 3.40 Lakh Tons sugar at an average sugar recovery of 8.60%.
In Maharashtra, 103 mills have commenced crushing & have crushed 36.09 Lakh Tons cane & have produced 2.40 Lakh Tons sugar at an average sugar recovery of 6.65%.
Similarly, only 50 mills in Karnataka have started season and have crushed 53.75 Lakh Tons cane and have produced 4.30 Lakh Tons sugar at an average sugar recovery of 8%.