In a recently conducted meeting to discuss various matters related to the sugar sector, the Joint Secretary (Sugar) requested state governments to strictly monitor the diversion of sugar to ethanol within the limit of 17 lakh tonnes (LMT), as per the decision taken by the government.
According to the report, a meeting was held with the State Commissioners/Directors of Sugar and other senior officers of the State Government under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary (Sugar) on January 02, 2024, in Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to assess sugar production during 2023-24 and address other important issues related to the sugar sector.
In the opening remarks, the Director (Sugar) welcomed all the participants and initiated the discussions. The Joint Secretary (Sugar) observed that various steps have been taken by the government in recent times to revive the sugar sector and facilitate sugar mills for the early payment of the cane price dues of the farmers. The Joint Secretary (Sugar) requested state governments to strictly monitor the diversion of sugar to ethanol within the limit of 17 LMT, as per the decision taken by the government. And also ensure that no diversion of sugarcane juice & B-Heavy molasses is allowed for production of RS/ENA. Additionally, directed the state governments to ensure the mandatory use of jute bags for packaging 20% of the sugar produced by the sugar mills and millers fill the PII on the NSWS sugar portal.
The Food Ministry, in early December, directed sugar mills not to use cane juice or syrup to produce ethanol. In a U-turn, the central government, in mid-December, allowed the utilization of juice as well as B-heavy molasses to produce ethanol but capped the diversion of sugar at 17 lakh tonnes for the current marketing season.
