Govt pegs sugar output at 25 mn tonnes for 2014-15

Government today pegged the country's total sugar production at 25.04 million tonnes in the current marketing year, slightly higher than last year.
This, however, is marginally lower than the projection of 25.5 million tonnes made by the state governments. Industry body ISMA had estimated 25-25.5 million tonnes for this year.
The country had manufactured 24.55 million tonnes of sugar in 2013-14 marketing year (October-September). India is the world's second biggest sugar producer.
"The production of sugar is expected to be around 25.04 million tonnes in the 2014-15 marketing year, which would be sufficient to meet the estimated domestic requirement of 24.5 million tonnes during the period," an official statement said.

The projections are made keeping in view the first advance estimates of sugarcane production released by the Agriculture Ministry and discussion with the Cane Commissioners of the state governments, it said.
Yesterday after a meeting with state cane commissioners, Food Secretary Sudhir Kumar had said, "There will not be a situation of crisis. Production will be higher by few lakh tonnes than last year."
Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are the country's top two sugar producing states in the country. There are around 500 sugar mills in the country. Some mills in parts of Karnataka have started crushing operations, while others are yet to begin.