In Maharashtra, there is a decline in sugar production compared to the previous season. By January 11, 2024, the state has witnessed a reduction of 97.89 lakh quintals (9.78 lakh tonnes) in sugar production compared to the last season.
According to the data from the Sugar Commissionerate, in the 2023-24 season until January 11, 2024, a total of 197 sugar mills have commenced crushing operations in Maharashtra. This includes 97 cooperative and 100 private sugar mills, with a total sugarcane crushing of 515.99 lakh tonnes. The state has produced 474.93 lakh quintals (47.49 lakh tonnes) of sugar so far, with the current average sugar recovery rate being 9.2 percent.
In the same period of the previous season, 202 sugar mills were operational, and they crushed 601.95 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 572.82 lakh quintals of sugar.
Solapur region in Maharashtra has witnessed the commencement of crushing operations by 47 sugar mills, the highest in the state. As per the Sugar Commissionerate data, by January 11, 2024, the Solapur division has crushed 112.63 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 95.5 lakh quintals of sugar, with a sugar recovery rate of 8.48 per cent.
On the contrary, the lowest number of sugar mills commencing operations is observed in the Amravati and Nagpur divisions. In each of these divisions, three sugar mills have started crushing operations.
