Comments
India’s sugar output for the 2016-17 season starting October is expected to be 3.34 per cent lower at 232.6 lakh tonnes due to a decline in cane acreage, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).
The area under cane has taken a beating in the major growing States of Maharashtra and Karnataka due to lower rainfall and the drought-like situation last year.
Acreage down The total acreage under sugarcane in the country in 2016-17 sugar season is estimated to be about 5.5 per cent lower at 49.91 lakh hectares compared with 52.84 lakh hectares in the previous year, ISMA said.
Sugar production during the 2016-17 season, as a result, is likely to be 3.34 per cent lower at 232.6 lakh tonnes compared to 251 lakh tonnes (lt) produced in the previous season.
The acreage estimates are based on satellite images procured in the latter part of June 2016, according to an official release.
Balance sheet With an estimated opening balance on October 1, 2016 of 71 lt and estimated production of 232.6 lt, sugar availability during the next season will be 303.6 lt, the release said.
It is enough to meet the domestic sugar consumption requirement of 260 lt in 2016-17.
Acreage in Uttar Pradesh, the top sugarcane producing State in the country, is estimated to be marginally higher at 23.35 lakh hectares in the 2016-17 sugar season (October-September), according to the preliminary figures.
This will lead to higher production in the State.
Maharashtra acreage Sugar acreage in Maharashtra is estimated to decline in the 2016-17 sugar season due to the drought-like situation last year, poor rainfall and less water availability for irrigation, the release said.
“Acreage is expected to come down to 7.80 lakh hectares in 2016-17 against the cane area of 10.5 lakh hectares in 2015-16. Sugar production is, therefore, estimated to be around 61.5 lakh tonne in 2016-17, as against 84.08 lakh tonnes in 2015-16,” according to ISMA.
Lower rainfall and the drought-like situation will also affect the sugarcane area in Karnataka, which will decline in 2016-17 to 4.15 lakh hectares (5.10 lakh hectares).
Sugar production in 2016-17 is estimated to be around 32.2 lt, as against the 40.71 lt expected to be produced in 2015-16.
The sugarcane area in Tamil Nadu in 2016-17 season is estimated to increase to 2.65 lakh hectares (2.50 lakh hectares).
Due to better rainfall and expected improvement in yields, sugarcane production is also expected to increase to 15.6 lakh tonnes.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.