Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Jan 02, 2002 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Sugar Industry & Economy - Sugar Maharashtra sugar co-ops may pare crushing season Our Bureau
MUMBAI, Jan. 1 MAHARASHTRA's co-operative sugar industry, expecting to end the current sugar year (Oct 001-Sept 2002) with a shortfall in production, is likely to shorten its crushing season by about 35-40 days. The crushing season, normally running for 180 days, may be reduced to 140-145 days this season on account of lower availability of sugarcane. Sugarcane production in the State during the October-September (2001-2002) season has been revised downwards to 495.59 lakh tonnes from the earlier estimate of 514 lakh tonnes. Cane output has been impacted by drought conditions in some parts of the growing areas in the previous season as it is a 12-18 month crop. Sugar production in the State during the current season is seen lower at 50.26 lakh tonnes as compared to 67 lakh tonnes in the 2000-2001 season, as per estimates made by Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Association. As per the statistics available, 137 factories from among 146 factories in the State have commenced crushing activities. During this season, 13 factories would have commenced trial crushing for the first time. As capacity utilisation in cane factories are expected to be lower this season, the factories have decided to reduce crushing season by a few days. The co-operative sugar industry that touched a record sugar recovery of 11.63 per cent during the previous season is not likely to repeat its performance. According to an official of the Association, the delay in the onset of winter could adversely affect sugar recovery. So far, average sugar recovery is around 10.25 per cent, with the highest recovery witnessed in Kolhapur at 10.60 per cent and the lowest at Aurangabad at 9.11 per cent. Maharashtra's sugar recovery has been the highest in the country mainly because of the sugarcane varietal selection, according to Mr Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Association. ``The variety arrived at by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute is meant to improve recovery,'' he said.
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