Pune: The non-availability of sugarcane has affected the current crushing season in Maharashtra. Many sugar mills in the state are shutting their operations as they had been troubled by flood and drought.
As per data from Maharashtra Sugar Commissionerate, till 26 Feb, 2020 overall 22 sugar mills in the state have closed their operations. Which include 10 mills in Aurangabad, 4 mills in Pune, 3 mils in Ahmednagar, 3 mills in Solapur, 1 mill in Kolhapur and 1 mill in Amravati district. Overall 143 sugar mills participated in the current crushing season.
Flood and drought have also hampered the sugar production in the state. Till 26th February, 447.24 lakh tonnes sugarcane was crushed and produced 49.23 lakh tonnes of sugar with a recovery rate of 11.01 per cent.
Crushing season in the state commenced late this year. Sugar mills in the state officially kick-started crushing season on November 22 after they got permission from state Governor BS Koshyari in the absence of a functional state government.
