Sugar mills in Maharashtra have crushed 961 lakh tonne of cane till date indicating the record sugar output this season.
According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), In Maharashtra, sugar production till 31st March 2021 was 100.47 lakh tonnes, compared with 59 lakh tonnes produced last year same period. Mills therein have so far crushed about 961 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, which is highest ever in the history of the State surpassing about 954 lac tonnes cane crushed in the 2017-18 season.
ISMA said, “The reason for lower production, despite higher crushing, as compared to 2017-18, is the lower sugar recovery and the diversion of sugarcane juice / B heavy molasses for ethanol production in the current season. So far, 113 mills have already closed their crushing operations in the State and 76 sugar mills are operating. On the corresponding date in last season, out of 146 mills that operated last year, 28 mills were in operation.”
Bumper sugarcane production due to good rainfall and favourable climate has led to an increase in the number of sugar mills participating in cane crushing.
