Baghpat: Despite sugar mills in the Baghpat region processing a similar amount of sugarcane to the previous season, sugar production has seen a significant drop, raising concerns among mill management and local farmers, reported Amar Ujala.
Data released by local sugar mills indicates that while the quantity of sugarcane crushed remained consistent with last year’s figures, sugar output fell by approximately 105,000 quintals, translating to an estimated financial loss of Rs 40 crore.
The Baghpat Ramala Cooperative Sugar Mill and the Malakpur sugar mill collectively processed 21.3 million quintals of sugarcane, matching around the previous year’s volume. However, sugar production reached only 2.239 million quintals, down from 2.344 million quintals in the previous season.
“This is a worrying trend,” stated a spokesperson from the regional sugar mill association. “The consistent sugarcane processing should have yielded comparable sugar production, but we’ve seen a noticeable decline.”
Farmers and agricultural experts attribute the decrease in sugar yield to several factors, primarily climate change and pest infestations. “The lack of a harsh winter this year has negatively impacted the sugarcane’s sugar content,” explained a local farmer. “Furthermore, the prevalence of top borer insects and red rot disease in sugarcane variety has exacerbated the problem.”
The local administration and sugar mill authorities are now working to address the issue, exploring measures to mitigate the impact of climate change and pest infestations on future sugarcane crops.
