Hungry cows may lead to lower sugar output in Maharashtra this year

Farmers in Maharashtra are selling cane in the cattle-feed market for as much as Rs 3,500 ($49) a ton

Sugar output in India’s second-biggest producing region will be less than expected after flood damage and as some farmers sell cane for feed.

Production in the western state of Maharashtra may total 5.2 million to 5.3 million tons in the year starting October 1, compared with a previous estimate of 6.44 million tons, said Shekhar Gaikwad, the state’s sugar commissioner. The new total is half last year’s 10.7 million tons, according to Gaikwad.

About 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) out of 843,000 hectares of cane that will be available for crushing next season have been hit by flooding caused by excess