Sugarcane production is likely to increase by 10 per cent to over 300 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year on improved cane acreage and better yield, a cooperative sugar body said.
In the 2009-10 crop year, sugarcane production stood at 274 million tonnes. Sugarcane is planted round the year and the crop is harvested during October-September.
"Sugarcane output would be more than 300 million tonnes in 2010-11 crop year as farmers are enthused to bring more area under the crop driven by better cane prices last year," National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) Managing Director Vinay Kumar said.
New varieties of sugarcane are promising yield increases to 65 tonne per hectare from 55 tonne per hectare in the country's top two cane growing states -- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, he said.
Kumar also said: "The country's sugar output may rise to 24-25 million tonnes in 2010-11 crop year if the monsoon rains are normal, against 18.5 million tonnes this year."
In 2009-10 crop year, farmers had received a record Rs 250 per quintal of sugarcane, while the fair and remunerative price (FRP) was Rs 129.84 per quintal. For 2010-11, the government has fixed sugarcane FRP at Rs 139.12 per quintal.
As on May 28, farmers have planted sugarcane in 4.28 million hectare, up from 4.07 million hectare tonnes a year ago period, according to official data.
Sugarcane, a very long duration crop, is planted during January-February and July-August period in south India, while during February-March and October-November period in north India. The crop is harvested during October-September.