Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said that sugar output is likely to decline for the second straight year to 24 million tonnes in the year staring October 2013 due to an expected lower sugarcane crop in Maharashtra.

During 2011-12 (September-October), the production stood at produced 26 mt. However, the output for this year has been pegged lower at 24.5-25 mt.

“This year, we are expecting 24.5 mt of sugar production. Next year, it will be 24 million tonnes. The setback will be in Maharashtra,” Pawar told reporters here.

He said sugarcane planting has not yet begun in Maharashtra, the largest sugar producing state, due to second consecutive year of poor rains. The situation is so severe that the State Government has decided to save water for drinking purpose alone.

During the ongoing 2012-13 marketing year (September-October), Pawar said that the situation is “good” other than Maharashtra and north Karnataka.

Sugar output in Maharashtra is expected to be lower as substantial sugarcane crop is being diverted as fodder, while the situation is “fortunately better” in Uttar Pradesh, the second biggest sugar producing state.

Recently, Food Minister K.V. Thomas had said that the production is likely to increase to 25 mt this year from the earlier estimate of 24.5 mt due to better crop prospects in Uttar Pradesh.

Mills have produced 18.8 mt of sugar in the first five months of the ongoing 2012-13 marketing year, while 50 mills have closed their crushing operations, as per industry data.

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