 "From the 2018-19 sugarcane season starting October, the Centre not only increased the base recovery rate from 9.5 to 10 per cent, but also raised the premium extra yield in sugar from Rs 2.68 per quintal to Rs 2.75 a quintal")
Even as another challenging domestic sugar season stares at the industry amid projected bumper sugarcane crop and depressed sugar prices, the Yogi Adityanath government is revitalising the once flourishing 'khandsari' (unrefined/raw sugar) sector in the state.
Khandsari is basically unrefined/raw sugar derived from thickened sugarcane syrup. It has higher molasses content and is deemed healthier than the refined and chemically treated white sugar.
At one point, there were about 5,000 khandsari units operating in the countryside of UP. However, only about 161 of the total 1,078 licensed khandsari plants were functional during the last crushing season, 2017-18.
