Sugar Season in Maharashtra: Balancing Challenges with Hope Sugar production sees a slight decline, while farmers face challenges amidst hopeful forecasts.

Sugar Production Trends

A Dip in Output: This sugar season, Maharashtra’s sugar mills have experienced a modest reduction in production. So far, they’ve processed 944.82 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, yielding 95.29 lakh tonnes (about 1.14 million US tons) of sugar. This represents a decline from last year’s output of 99.12 lakh tonnes (approximately 1.19 million US tons) from a slightly higher cane crush volume. Despite this, industry experts remain hopeful, predicting an increase in total sugar output by the end of the season. This optimism is fueled by a higher extraction rate of 10.09% this season, compared to 9.93% in the previous year, and the anticipated benefits from recent unseasonal rains.

Challenges in the Agricultural Sector

Voices of Concern: The sugar belt in western Maharashtra is currently marked by unrest among farmers. They express dissatisfaction with the slow pace at which sugar mills are purchasing sugarcane, which they believe could affect the crop’s yield and quality. Additionally, there are disputes over payments to sugarcane cutters, creating further delays in harvesting. Complicating matters is a severe water shortage, hitting hardest in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, where the redirection of water for drinking purposes has led to sugarcane crops drying out.

Call for Action and Solidarity

Towards Resolution: The predicament faced by farmers has sparked calls for better cooperation between sugar mills and the agricultural community. Dhananjay Bhosale, a local farmer, emphasises the importance of addressing these issues to ensure the timely and equitable collection of sugarcane. Furthermore, stakeholders stress the need for effective water management strategies to mitigate the impacts of scarcity. This balanced approach is deemed essential for the resilience of Maharashtra’s sugar industry and the well-being of its farming communities.

Despite the challenges faced this season, a collaborative approach between farmers and mills, alongside efficient water management, could potentially brighten the outlook for Maharashtra’s sugar industry.

Related posts:

ISMA’s Push for Ethanol India's Evolving Sugar Industry and Ethanol Production Impact of El Niño on Sugar Production in the Philippines Global Sugar Supply Improves – Prices Retreat Sugar Futures at 6-Year High India to Allow 1 MT Additional Sugar for Export if Output Reaches 33.6 MT Sugar Output in India Up Nearly 3% At 23 Million Tonne Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh rose marginally to 6.12 million tonne from 5.99 million tonne Sugar Output up 3.4% Till Jan 31; Diversion for Ethanol Rises 38.6% Overall production estimated 6.2% higher than year-ago period Sugar: India 2 Largest Sugar Producer In The World