Sugar production up by 2.5 pc to 7.96 MT so far

New Delhi. Sugar production in the country has increased marginally by 2.5 per cent to 7.96 million tonnes in the first three months of the ongoing marketing year ending September 2013, according to industry body ISMA. Maharashtra, the country's biggest sugar producing state, has produced 2.90 million tonnes during October- December period of the 2012-13 marketing year, up by 4 per cent from over last year, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement. Uttar Pradesh, the second-largest sugar producing state, has produced 11 per cent more sweetener at 1.92 million tonnes so far, while Karnataka has seen 17 per cent jump in output at 1.55 million tonne in the review period, it said. Production in Tamil Nadu, however, remained at last year's level at 300,000 tonnes during October-December period. Andhra Pradesh has produced 328,000 tonnes, it added. Overall, 496 millers were in operation in the first three months of the current marketing year, as against 508 in the year-ago period. In its first estimate, ISMA had projected total sugar production at 24 million tonnes for 2012-13 marketing year. The second estimate will be released by mid-January, it added. "By this time, ratoon plant from Uttar Pradesh andm plant of Adsali and pre-seasonal from Maharashtra will be harvested from farmers field, giving a better idea of the crop this season," the industry body said. According to ISMA, Uttar Pradesh witnessed sugar recovery of 8.74 per cent during October-December period of 2012-13 marketing year. The initial pace in recovery gain was lost due to arrival of stale sugarcane. Farmers in UP are in hurry to sow wheat crop by clearing their sugarcane ratoon field. As many as 121 millers were operating in the state during the last three months. In Maharasthra, sugar recovery remained at last year's level of 10.46 per cent. Slow pace in recovery revival in the state was due to partially dry cane arrivals. 161 sugar mills were operating in the state, as against 167 mills in the year-ago period. Pune division (comprising districts like Satara and Solapur), which was badly affected with drought, has produced 1.17 million tonnes so far, ISMA said, adding that more private mills were in operation in the state this year. In Karnataka, sugar recovery was 9.87 per cent till December of this marketing year, slightly better than the year-ago period. 56 mills were operating in the state. Sugar production figures are determined based on satellite mapping and intensive field visits by their experts, ISMA added. The country had produced little over 26 million tonnes of sugar in the 2011-12 marketing year (October-September).