UP sugar output nears 1 million tonne mark already

So far, the state's cane farmers have been paid Rs 1,511 cr by mills for their crop

Uttar Pradesh's sugar production is nearing a million tonnes (mt) in the ongoing crushing season.

The state is the country's top sugar producer and is targeting output of almost 11 mt, a fifth higher than last year. According to official data, the state's mills had collectively crushed nearly 11 mt of cane so far, producing a shade less than one mt of sugar, at average recovery of 9.75%.

In the previous crushing season, half this much sugar was produced in the same time span, sugar recovery being 9.66%.

Sanjay R Bhoosreddy, the state government's cane and sugar commissioner,