Uttar Pradesh is set to surpass Maharashtra as the country's largest sugar producer, with the former revising the output upwards to 8.1 million tonnes for ongoing 2016-17 marketing year.
The state had initially estimated 7.7 million tonnes of sugar production for the 2016-17 marketing year (October-September), as against 6.85 million tonnes in the previous year.
In a meeting of cane growing states called by the Union Food Ministry, the UP government has informed about revised sugar production estimates.
"Sugar production in UP is estimated to be 8.1 million tonnes for this year, up from earlier estimate of 7.7 million tonnes," a state government official said after the meeting.
Good rains boosted sugarcane output as crop yields have gone up to 77.58 tonnes per hectare this year from 66.47 tonnes per hectare last year, the official said.
The crop yields have improved because of use of better and early maturing varieties, he said.
That apart, sugar mills in the state started early crushing and sugar recovery is also expected to be good, the state government said.
According official sources, sugar production in Maharashtra is estimated to be lower than 5.5 million tonnes this year, as against 8.40 million tonnes last year.
The output in Maharashtra is estimated to have fallen due to less rains and drought-like situation, they said.
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