Kolhapur district has emerged as the leader in sugar production and recovery in Maharashtra, achieving a more than 11 per cent sugar recovery during the 2023-24 crushing season.
According to data from the Sugar Commissionerate, Kolhapur produced 179.1 lakh quintals of sugar by February 4, 2024. With 162.37 lakh tonnes of sugarcane crushed, the district boasts an impressive 11.03 per cent sugar recovery rate. This accomplishment is attributed to the contributions of its 40 sugar mills, comprising 26 cooperatives and 14 private facilities.
Meanwhile, sugar mills across the state have begun closing their crushing season. As of February 4, 2024, three mills have shut down, compared to five at the same time last season. The closures include one mill each in Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Nanded districts.
During this season, a total of 207 sugar mills (103 cooperative and 104 private) crushed 716.03 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in the production of 692.52 lakh quintals (6.925 million tonnes) of sugar. The average sugar recovery for the state currently stands at 9.67%.
