Weak monsoon may hit sugarcane yield

(Business Standard) – The deficient monsoon might affect sugarcane productivity and sugar output in the 2012-13 marketing year, starting October.

However, sugar production would be enough to meet domestic demand, the government said on Tuesday.

“According to the reports received from major sugar producing states, the deficiency in monsoon in some parts of the country may affect sugarcane yield, with consequent reduction in sugar production,” Food Minister K V Thomas said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan are facing a drought-like situation this year.

Thomas said the government’s estimates for kharif crops, including sugarcane, are yet to be released. “However, as per reports received from state governments concerned and also the sugar industry, likely production of sugar in the country will be sufficient to meet the domestic requirement,” he added.

In the current 2011-12 marketing year, sugar production is estimated at 26 million tonnes as against the annual domestic demand of 22 million tonnes.

Replying to a separate question, Thomas said the country had exported 1.35 million tonnes of sugar in the first half of 2011-12 marketing year.

He said the stock would be 6.2 million tonnes at the end of the ongoing marketing year.