Maharashtra sugar output may jump 18% in 2010-11

On the back of higher cane output, sugar production in Maharashtra was likely to increase by 18 per cent to 8.5 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year, a cooperative body has said.

In the current crop year ending September, Maharashtra—the country’s largest producer—is estimated to produce 7.2 million tonnes of sweetener as against 4.6 million tonnes in the previous year. The sugar year runs from October to September.

“Sugar output may rise to 8.5 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year (October-September),” Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation (MSCSFF) Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare said. He said the sugar output would rise in 2010-11 as sugarcane production was expected to jump significantly after farmers received a record price for their cane in the 2009-10 crop year.

“Cane production is expected to increase to 72.5 million tonnes in the forthcoming crop year against 62 million tonnes this year,” Naiknavare said. Apart from the rise in area, he said yields would also go up by over six per cent, as farmers were likely to opt for the high-yielding ‘265 Phule’ cane variety.

The area under cane-cultivation is likely to expand by two lakh hectares to 10 lakh hectares in the 2010-11 crop year. Similarly, yields are expected to improve to 83 tonnes per hectare from 78 tonnes per hectare in the review period.

Naiknavare added, “This particular cane variety, ‘265 Phule’ is quite popular in the state because of the high yield of 90 tonnes per hectare. Many are expected to go for this.”

According to official data, cane had been planted in 8.86 lakh hectares of land as on June 3 in Maharashtra. Sugarcane, a very long duration crop, is planted thrice a year in India.