Govt ups sugar output estimates by 2.2 mn tonnes

The government today said sugar production estimates have been revised upwards by 2.2 million tonnes to 18.5 million tonnes for the 2009-10 crop year.

India, the world's second largest producer but biggest consumer, produced 14.7 million tonnes in the 2008-09 crop year. The sugar year runs from October to September.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the Cane Commissioners of all sugar producing states have revised the production estimate to 18.5 million tonnes for 2009-10 from the earlier projection of 15.6-16.3 million tonnes, which was formulated in February.

Pointing out that the Cane Commissioners had furnished sharply varying estimates of sugar production during crop years 2008-09 and 2009-10, Pawar said the Centre has advised them to "furnish estimate of sugar production as accurately as possible".

"Availability of accurate estimates of production facilitates appropriate response of the central government in time," Pawar said, adding that low sugar production had put pressure on its management and prices.

The Cane Commissioners lowered the estimates of sugar production in 2008-09 on account of a decline in cane production and its diversion for manufacturing gur and khandsari.

"Besides, a shift in acreage from sugarcane to other foodgrain crops and a fall in the recovery rate of sugar from sugarcane led to lower level of sugar production," he said.

In the current year, Pawar said prolonged monsoon vagaries impacted sugarcane production. "All these made it difficult to accurately estimate sugar production," he said.