Domestic availability of sugar unlikely to be ‘adverse’ in 2023-24 season: NFCSF

08 Sep 2023 Evaluate

Discarding rumours of likely sugar shortage in India due to El Nino, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) has said that domestic availability of the sweetener is not expected to be ‘adverse’ in the 2023-24 season. Sugar season runs from October to September. The crushing operation of 2023-24 is yet to begin.

NFCSF Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare said El Nino - which refers to warming of ocean surface - has impacted the drying flurry of monsoon in some parts of Maharashtra. However, all other cane growing states i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Uttarakhand, have received above normal rains which has definitely helped the growth stage of standing cane to gain weight and sucrose content.

He also observed that there is a ‘widespread rumour’ in some sections about possible severe shortage of sugar during 2023-24 season. He said the factual situation is contrary to this speculative projection. Citing an example of expected higher yields in certain states, he said the net sugar production in Karnataka which was feared to drop to 3.5 million tonne is actually projected to yield in excess of 4.5 million tonne. He said Uttar Pradesh, the largest sugarcane and sugar producing state, is projected to surpass its last year's net sugar production by a million tonne. 

He noted as far as Maharashtra is concerned, after a prolonged dry spell of August, monsoon has revived in September which will help improve health of standing crop and sucrose content. As per the data maintained by the agriculture ministry, area sown to sugarcane remained slightly higher at 59.91 lakh hectare till September 1 of this year, as against 55.65 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Sugar output is pegged at 34 million tonne in 2022-23 season, lower than 35.8 million tonne in the previous marketing year.

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