Acreage under sugarcane has increased by 9% in FY 20-21 at 52.68 lakh hectare
According to first advance estimate of sugar production released by Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), sugar production in the current season is expected to be around 310 lakh tonnes (Lt) as compared to estimated 274 lt in the 2019-20 sugar season, which closed on September 30.
This advance estimation is released after the estimated diversion of 20 lt sugar for producing ethanol using B heavy molasses .
The opening balance of sugar on October 1 is estimated to be 106.4 lt (145.8 lt). The estimated domestic sales in 2019-20 season was 257 lt and exports were around 56.5 lt.
ISMA has mentioned that there is about 9 per cent increase in area under sugarcane this year as compared to the previous year. The satellite imageries captured during the first week of October showed total sugarcane acreage to be 52.68 lakh ha (48.41 lakh ha).
According to estimate, Uttar Pradesh is projected to produce 124.57 lt (126.37 lt), while Maharashtra which was hit by drought as well as by floods one after another last year — would produce 108 lt, about 46.34 lt more than last year.
Similarly, sugarcane area in Karnataka has gone up by 0.8 lakh ha to 5 lakh ha and this is estimated to increase the 2020-21 production by nearly 11 lt to touch 46 lt, ISMA said.
ISMA mentioned that Tamil Nadu, whose sugarcane area came down slightly and Gujarat, which registered a 7 per cent increase in the sugarcane acreage, all other sugar-producing States are expected to maintain same production levels as the 2019-20 season.
