For the first time after five years, Maharashtra has surpassed Uttar Pradesh in sugar production. As per the figures till March-end, Maharashtra has produced more than 100 lakh tonne sugar as against 96 lakh tonne by UP.
For the ongoing crushing season, Maharashtra is expected to produce 105-107 lakh tonne sugar whereas UP is expected to produce 105 lakh tonne sugar.
According to experts, the situation will continue for next season also with both states competing to retain the top position.
As per the news report published in Financialexpress.com, Prakash Naiknavare, MD, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, said, “The Co-0238 cane variety introduced in UP in 2012 has helped the state to overtake Maharashtra from 2016-17 to 2019-20.”
“This variety gave UP mills’ better tonnage and more recovery. Moreover, at almost 23 lakh hectares, UP has double the area under cane cultivation than the 10-11 lakh hectares in Maharashtra,” he said.
