The Government has allocated 16.12 lakh tonnes of sugar for sale in the open market and distribution through ration shops for the current month.
Sugar allocated to meet the demand for this month is, however, lower than 17.16 lakh tonnes released last month.
Out of total quota released for February, the Food Ministry has earmarked 14 lakh tonnes for sale in the open market (called non-levy sugar) and the remaining 2.12 lakh tonnes would be for ration shops (called levy sugar).
“The Government has decided to make available 16.12 lakh tonnes of sugar (levy sugar 2.12 lakh tonnes and non-levy sugar 14 lakh tonnes) for the month of February, 2012,” an official statement said.
The Ministry has directed sugar mills to sell the entire non-levy quantity released in the current month itself.
Sugar production in India, the world’s second largest, is expected to be 24.5 million tonnes in the 2011-12 season (October-September), higher than the annual demand of 21.5 mt.