Only 500 lakh metric tons (LMT) of sugarcane will be available during crushing season of 2008-09 which will begin in October as against the 775 LMT during the 2007-08. This is going to reduce the sugar production in the state from around 90.96 LMT to around 57 LMT, points out the figures released by the Maharashtra State Sugar Cooperative Factories Federation Ltd. (MSSCFFL).
Decline in sugar production in India and Brazil's decision to utlise 65 per cent of its sugarcane to produce ethanol directly is going send prices of sugar soaring, which is good both for sugarcane farmers and millers. If 2008-09 is going to be good for us then 20009-10 is going to better for us, claimed Prakash Naiknavre, managing director of the MSSPL.
The trend of reduction in sugarcane and sugar production is likely to be replicated, elsewhere in the country as well as due to lower prices of sugarcane in last few seasons, farmers have shifted to other crops. It is estimated that, All India sugar production is going to come down from 273 LMT in 2007-08 to 217 LMT in 2008-09 and 187 LMT in 2009-10, he said