The Hindu Business Line : Record sugar recovery likely in Maharashtra

So far, 138 sugar mills (116 co-operative and 22 private) have crushed 200 lt of sugarcane and produced 21.50 lt of sugar during the two-and-half-month period of the current season. This is against 101 mills crushing 118 lt sugarcane to produce 12.75 lt of sugar last season.

"This year, 37 more mills have crushed an extra 82 lt sugarcane," Mr Vikramsinh Ghatge, newly elected Chairman of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Federation Ltd, told presspersons.

"On account of excellent and widespread rains, the main reservoirs got filled to their capacity and the water levels have gone up and there is tremendous interest at the farmers' level to go in for sugar cultivation," Mr Ghatge said.

Recovery rate during the current season is expected to be a high 11.75 per cent compared with the current average rate of 10.76 per cent because of good recovery in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts.

The expected final average recovery of 11.75 per cent could create a new record in the history of Maharashtra. The highest recovery so far has been 11.67 per cent in 2000-01.

"Because of high recovery, sugar production may increase to 48-50 lakh tonnes this season," said Mr Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director of the Federation.

At least 600-lt sugarcane is expected to be available for crushing this season. The ex-factory sugar prices are ruling around Rs 1,600-1,700 a quintal, while retail prices have been Rs 20-21 a kg. Also, farmers obtained four figure rates for their raw material.

"This equilibrium has helped not only attracted the farmers towards sugarcane cultivation but also helped the mills whose financial performance is set for improvement," Mr Naiknavare said.

On export opportunity of sugar, he said India had emerged as the only country capable of meeting white sugar requirement.