 "A worker loads sugarcane into a load carrier at a wholesale market in Ahmedabad. Photo: Reuters")
The sugar crushing season has started earlier this time. As on Tuesday, 222 mills had started crushing, as against 175 in the season at the same time last year.
Production, at 787,000 tonnes is a marginal 15,000 tonnes higher as compared to last year on the same date.
Mills in UP advanced their crushing by a fortnight and Maharashtra's starting crushing from November 5 (later than last year); Karnataka mills have also started earlier than their usual time. In UP, 55 mills have been working, producing 193,000 tonnes as compared to 150,00 tonnes at the same period last year, when only six mills were operational.
In Maharashtra, 95 mills had produced 112,000 tonnes, as compared to 431,000 tonnes from 114 mills last year.
However a TV channel had quoted Narendra Murkumbi, vice-chairman, Shree Renuka Sugars, as saying, "Transport in the sugar industry is badly hit. New purchases have come down 50 per cent. Supply of manpower at the lower levels is getting difficult. Sales lost or delayed this week will get made up, as the inventory starts filling up and trucks return in full strength to the roads."
