New Delhi: India's sugar production is estimated to touch all time high of 28.3 million tonnes (MT) in the ongoing marketing year, 2014-15, as mills have already manufactured 27.95 MT so far.
As compared to about 24.04 MT of sugar produced till May in the last 2013-14 sugar season (October-September), the Indian sugar industry has so far produced a record 27.95 MT, Industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in its latest estimate.
Sugarcane crushing operations across the country are about to end. Only 19 sugar mills are crushing at present.
Sugar mills in Maharashtra have produced 10.47 MT of sugar, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 7.09 MT, and Karnataka with 4.89 MT.
Overall sugar output in the current marketing year would be around 28.3 MT, similar to that in 2006-07 which was then the highest ever produced in the history of the Indian sugar sector, ISMA said.
Citing the government's initiatives in 2006-07, when the country produced record sugar, ISMA said that to help the industry the Centre had created buffer stock and provided interest free loans, whereas nothing has been done this time.
As compared to the sugar season of 2006-07, the current sugar season is worse, as Rs 22,000 crore cane arrears of farmers are still pending, prices both in domestic and global market have fallen to the lowest levels in the last 6-7 years.
"This has worsened the financial health of the sugar industry, due to which banks are not coming forward to lend further loans," ISMA pointed.
The industry body also demanded that government should come out with some substantial assistance for sugarcane farmers and the sugar industry, otherwise many sugar mills cannot start their operations in 2015-16.
