Sugar crushing delayed in Karnataka as Maharashtra polls hold up workers

Majority of sugar mills in North Karnataka are dependent on harvesting gangs from neighbouring state

Sugar mills in Karnataka are likely to start crushing for the new sugar season (October-September) after the completion of Maharashtra Assembly elections. A majority of sugar mills in northern Karnataka has delayed their crushing operations because they are dependent on workers from Maharashtra.

“Mills in north Karnataka are dependent on workers from various parts of Maharashtra. Due to the elections this year, the migration of workers is delayed and they will also wait for Diwali to get over before joining the harvesting season in Karnataka,” Pawan Kumar, president, South Indian Sugar Mills Association, told Business Standard.

In Karnataka, third largest producer of sugar in the country, crushing starts in two phases. In southern parts, crushing starts by August, and in the north and northwestern parts, it begins in October. Eight mills, including Bannari Amman, Sri Chamundeshwari Sugars Ltd and Mysugar, have started crushing in the Mysore division.

With expansion of area under cane cultivation across Karnataka, the mills are expecting five-10 per cent increase in sugar production for 2014-15.

“We estimate sugar production to be higher this year compared to the 4.18 million tonnes produced in 2013-14. The standing crop is in very good condition, as there was no flooding during last year's monsoon,” Kumar said.

For 2013-14, Karnataka produced 4.18 million tonnes of sugar compared to 3.39 million tonnes in the previous year, showing a growth of 23.3 per cent. The recovery of sugar went up 58 basis points to 10.98 per cent. Cane crushing went up 16.6 per cent to 38.1 million tonnes during the year compared to 32.7 million tonnes in 2012-13 season.