sugar hill records

Uttar Pradesh government is targetting 50 per cent rise in state sugar output to about 10.5 million tonnes (mt) by 2017 from a little under 7 mt during 2011-12. This feat (corresponding to the current Five Year Plan 2012-17) would be achieved through the targetted increase in cane productivity from 59 tonnes per hectare to 70 tonnes per hectare.  

ISMA's estimation of sugar production during 2010-11 and 2011-12 has been right on target because of  technology based satellite mapping of sugarcane acreage and continuous field visits carried out both by ISMA and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited.  The accurate estimations can help in taking policy decisions on time for the betterment of the sugar industry, sugarcane farmers and consumers, said a ISMA spokesperson. 

ISMA said that its sugar production estimate of 260 lakh tons projected way back in July 2011 will be achieved.  The balance 9 lakh tons beyond the 251 lakh tons already produced would come largely from Tamil Nadu which is expected to still produce about 6.5 lakh tons between May and September in the current season.  

During last year, Tamil Nadu sugar mills produced 6.9 lakh tons in these 5 months. In view of 64 sugar mills still crushing sugarcane in Maharashtra, ISMA expects another 2 lakh tons to be produced by Maharashtra sugar mills in the next couple of months and Karnataka to produce just about 1 lakh tons, partly in May and partly in September, 2012. 

However, as compared to last year, the number of sugar mills still crushing sugarcane is lower at 129 sugar mills as on 1st May 2012 in comparison to 174 sugar mills last year on the same date, with the exception that Tamil Nadu still have a higher number of sugar mills i.e. 42 crushing sugarcane when compared to last year i.e. 33 sugar mills.  

Till 30th April, 2012, U.P. has produced 69.58 lakh tons, Maharashtra has produced 88.34 lakh tons, Karnataka produced 37.10 lakh tons, Tamil Nadu produced 15.75 lakh tons and Andhra Pradesh produced 11.18 lakh tons.

Most of the increase has been contributed by U.P, which has seen an increase of almost 11 lakh tons, Maharashtra where the increase is about 5 lakh tons, Karnataka where the increase is almost 3 lakh tons and Tamil Nadu where the sugar production is more by almost 4 lakh tons as compared to last year.

According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the sugar production upto the end of April, 2012 for the current sugar season is 251 lakh tons.  This is almost 25 lakh tons more than the production upto the end of April, 2011 last year.

Sugarcane for the next sugar season has been planted in 44.12 lakh hectare as compared to 43.23 lakh hectare last year on the corresponding period, which is 2% higher.  Therefore, it is certain that production in ensuing season 2012-13 starting from 1st October will be higher than the domestic consumption and India will continue to export sugar third year in a row.

The southern states of Karnataka & Tamil Nadu have also reported higher production of 37.50  & 15.25 lakh tonnes respectively. Tamil Nadu is expected to produce another 7 lakh tonnes in the balance period this year. The number of factories still in operation in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are 30 and 44 respectively. Andhra Pradesh has reported 12% more production than last year. The state has produced about 11.10 lakh tonnes of sugar so far.

Maharashtra has produced 87.11 lakh tonnes of sugar till 22nd April 2012, 8.5 percent higher than last year. The cane recovery is 11.61%. 78 factories are still in operations in the State. Uttar Pradesh has produced 69.40 lakh tonnes of sugar which is about 18% higher than last year. Cane recovery is 9.07%. Seven mills are still operational in UP.

According to Indian Sugar Mills Association, 249.80 lakh tonnes of sugar has been produced till 22nd April 2012 in the country as compared to 221.52  lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of sugar season 2010-11, indicating an increase of about 28 lakh tonnes. The sugar production till 22nd April 2012 is about 13 percent more than the same period last year. As against 214 mills which were operational in 2010-11, 181 mills are operational as on 22nd April, 2012.

Since demand in international market is more for raw sugar, the permission should be given by end of March 2012 so that mills could produce raw sugar before they shut their operations expected by mid-April 2012 or so. This will help in clearance of cane price arrears which have mounted to unprecedented levels.

ISMA also feels that with an opening balance of 68 lakh tons of sugar as on 1st October, 2011, as estimated by Department of Food and PD, Government of India and production of 260 lakh tonnes, which seems very much possible, the Government should immediately allow further exports to reduce the surplus sugar which is estimated to be over 20 to 25 lakh tonnes.

ISMA maintains that the sugar production will be 260 lakh tonnes in the current season 2011-12.