New Delhi, Apr 2 (KNN)  Sugar production has declined by a marginal 2 per cent during the first half of the marketing year especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka, owing to shortage of sugar cane, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said.

The amount of sugar produced from crushed cane during the current season was 23.05 million tonnes, compared to the output of 23.45 million tonnes of the corresponding period last year.  

Maharashtra led in production with an output of 7.7mt, about 4 per cent lower than the year before, followed by Uttar Pradesh (6.75mt, down 1.2 per cent), Karnataka (3.29 mt, down 7 per cent) and Tamil Nadu, 1.35mt.  Tamil Nadu last year produced 3 per cent less sugar during the corresponding period.

The fall in production in Maharashtra and Karnataka has been attributed to severe drought-like conditions in many parts owing to poor rainfall during the 2012 monsoon season.
ISMA has estimated sugar output to 24.6 million tonnes for this season which runs from 1 October 2012, to 30 September 2013, marginally lower than 26 mt produced in the previous year.

Out of 520 sugar mills which were operational during crushing season 2012-13, only 255 sugar mills were still crushing sugarcane at the end of March, 2013.  However, during same corresponding period last year, 47 additional sugar mills were crushing sugarcane.

Non availability of cane for crushing was the major factor that forced mills to announce closure of the season early. (KNN)