 "Sugar output in Punjab to touch 4.9 mn quintals")
VSugar output in Punjab is likely to register an increase of 14% in the current crushing season compared to last year. The current crushing season is likely to commence from mid of this month and according to state government estimates, Sugar output in the state would touch 49 lakh quintals (4.9 million quintals) compared to 43 lakh quintals(4.3 million quintals) last year.
Senior officials in the state government mentioned that the increase in area under sugarcane is the main reason behind increase in output.
Speaking to Business Standard, senior officials in state government department said, “This year, the total estimated area under Sugarcane cultivation in the state was 96,000 hectares while last year it was 83,000 hectares, an increase of 16% over last year. As per provisional estimates the overall production of the cane would be 670 lakh quintals in the current season. Out of the total, 540 lakh quintal would be available for crushing. Considering the data, we expect that the Sugar output would touch 49 lakh quintal in the current crushing season.”
Further, it may be noted that in the past few years, the state has witnessed a substantial increase in the sugar productions from 18.20 lakh quintals in 2009-10 to 43 lakh quintals in 2012-13, the increase in area under sugarcane clearly indicates that the state government is putting a lot of thrust on diversification. Insiders mentioned the government initiative to offer remunerative price for sugarcane, in order to promote diversification and encourage farmers to take sugarcane cultivation has yielded results, which led to increase in area.
Further, in order to encourage farmers and to promote diversification, the state government has fixed the State Agreed Price (SAP) of advanced, medium and late variety of Sugarcane at Rs 290, Rs 280 and Rs 275 respectively for the crushing season of 2013-14. While last year it was at Rs. 250, Rs 240 and Rs 235 per quintal respectively.
Senior officials in the state government mentioned that the increase in area under sugarcane is the main reason behind increase in output.
Speaking to Business Standard, senior officials in state government department said, “This year, the total estimated area under Sugarcane cultivation in the state was 96,000 hectares while last year it was 83,000 hectares, an increase of 16% over last year. As per provisional estimates the overall production of the cane would be 670 lakh quintals in the current season. Out of the total, 540 lakh quintal would be available for crushing. Considering the data, we expect that the Sugar output would touch 49 lakh quintal in the current crushing season.”
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It may be recalled here that last year the total cane availability for crushing in the state was 474 lakh quintals and the total sugar output of the state was 43 lakh quintals. At present, 16 sugar mills were operational in the state, of which 9 were in cooperative and 7 in private sector. The crushing capacity of 9 cooperative sugar mills was 15,766 TCD( tonnes crushed per day) and 34,000 TCD of 7 private mills, thereby totaling up to 49,766 TCD.
Further, it may be noted that in the past few years, the state has witnessed a substantial increase in the sugar productions from 18.20 lakh quintals in 2009-10 to 43 lakh quintals in 2012-13, the increase in area under sugarcane clearly indicates that the state government is putting a lot of thrust on diversification. Insiders mentioned the government initiative to offer remunerative price for sugarcane, in order to promote diversification and encourage farmers to take sugarcane cultivation has yielded results, which led to increase in area.
Further, in order to encourage farmers and to promote diversification, the state government has fixed the State Agreed Price (SAP) of advanced, medium and late variety of Sugarcane at Rs 290, Rs 280 and Rs 275 respectively for the crushing season of 2013-14. While last year it was at Rs. 250, Rs 240 and Rs 235 per quintal respectively.