AP sugar output down 15%

Sugar output in Andhra Pradesh has declined 15 per cent to 5.03 million quintal for the year 2009-10, as compared with 5.92 million quintal last year on account of lower cane production.

The state had set a target of crushing 5.6 million tonne but managed to reach only 5.52 million tonne during the just ended crushing season. This is 7.84 per cent less than 5.99 million tonne cane crushed last year. Also, the recovery levels have fallen to 9.12 per cent this year as compared with 9.89 per cent.

According to cane commissioner K Lakshminarayana, productivity had declined as farmers went for early crushing.

Cane crushing, which normally begins in December, goes on till May. But this year, it ended in mid March itself. In the process, the crushing season provided employment to labour for about 90 days as against the normal 150 days.

The normal sugarcane sown area in the state is 2,29,000 hectare. However, it declined to 1,96,000 hectare in 2008-09 and to 1,40,000 during 2009-10.

Lakshminarayana said there were indications of more farmers taking up sugarcane cultivation for the 2010-11 season that would seen an increase of about 10 per cent in the acreage.

Ideally, cane needs a mix of cold and hot climatic conditions during January. But this year, the weather remained overcast and this resulted in reduced output, he said, adding the cropping season, which begins in September- October, was preceded by successive drought and floods.

AP has 38 cooperative, joint venture and private sugar factories of which 35 units took up crushing this year. Three others remained closed during the year. Of the 35 sugar factories, crushing at 32 units closed by March 15 and the remaining three are in the last leg of operations.

One more sugar factory will be operational next year with a 2,500 tonne per day crushing capacity.

Various factories in the state have extended incentives including a cash subsidy of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per hectare to farmers. Sugarcane farmers in the state realised Rs 1,800-2,200 per tonne. About 70 per cent of the sugarcane is processed for sugar, 18-20 per cent for jaggery and remaining is preserved for seed for the next crop.