In Maharashtra, there is a decline in sugar production compared to the previous season. By January 7, 2024, the state has witnessed a reduction of 96.68 lakh quintals (9.68 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 7, 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 483.2 lakh tonnes. The state has produced 439.86 lakh quintals (43.98 lakh tonnes) of sugar so far, with the current average sugar recovery rate being 9.1 percent.
In the same period of the previous season, 202 sugar mills were operational, and they crushed 566.97 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 536.54 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 7, 2024, the Solapur division has crushed 105.15 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 88.13 lakh quintals of sugar, with a sugar recovery rate of 8.38 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.
