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Sugar industry body ISMA on Wednesday revised its estimates for gross production of the sweetener by 9.5 lakh tonnes to 340 lakh tonnes in the marketing year ending September. In January, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) had projected the gross sugar production, without any diversion for ethanol, at 330.5 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 marketing year (October-September). In a statement, ISMA said the gross sugar production is now estimated at 340 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, as against the gross output of 366.2 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The executive Committee of ISMA in its meeting held on March 12, noted the sugar recovery, cane yield, remaining harvestable area / sugarcane and expected dates of closure of factories in different States. The panel agreed that sugarcane availability in Maharashtra and Karnataka is higher than expected. However, cane availability in another major state, Uttar Pradesh, is predicted to be lower than earlier estimates. "Accordingly, ISMA has revised
Over 99 per cent sugar cane dues to farmers in the country have been cleared by mills which amounts to over Rs 1.14 lakh crore out of the Rs 1.15 lakh crore outstanding, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He also said that now only Rs 516 crore outstanding is due with regards to three sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh against whom action is being taken. Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce, Industry, Consumer Affairs and food, said in 2013-14, Rs 57,000 crore had been given to farmers as sugar cane price. Cane price dues used to be given to farmers after two-three years. However, in 2022-23, cane production increased by one-and-a-half times and cane dues stood at Rs 1,15,000 crore. "Of this, Rs 1,14,000 crore has been paid to farmers on time which is more than 99 per cent," he said, inviting a sharp response from some opposition members who claimed the figures were not correct. The minister said productivity of the mills has increased, cooperative mills have .