New Delhi: The government said on Friday in the Rajya Sabha, that India’s sugar production is estimated to decline by 18 per cent to 273 Lakh MT in the sugar season 2019-2020.
With the carryover stock of about 140 Lakh MT of last sugar season together with estimated production of 273 Lakh MT during current sugar season, the total availability of sugar in the country is estimated to be about 413 Lakh MT as against estimated domestic consumption of 260 Lakh MT. Thus, it is expected that there would not be any shortage of sugar in the country in near future. The decline in sugar production in sugar season 2019-20 in the state of Maharashtra is mainly due to low availability of cane following drought last year and heavy rainfall in this year. This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao in Rajya Sabha today.
During current sugar season 2019-20, sugar mills in some of the States, particularly Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have started sugar production earlier than last year but the sugar production in the country is estimated to be about 273 Lakh MT, as against about 332 Lakh MT produced last year.
Danve Raosaheb Dadarao said, “In order to improve the liquidity of sugar mills to enable them to clear the cane dues of the farmers in time, the Government has already taken various measures for the current sugar season including creation of buffer stocks of 40 Lakh MT with interest subvention of about Rs 1674 Crore to be borne by Government, Maximum Admissible Export Quantity of 60 Lakh MT with financial assistance of about 6200 crore and also allowed production of ethanol from C-Hy or B-Hy molasses or sugarcane juice or sugar syrup or sugar for supply to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme at remunerative prices.”
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