Sugarcane is sold as a livestock and sugar production will be lower behind the loss of rainfall

Mumbai, Ta. September 23, 2019, Monday

Maharashtra is the second largest producer of sugar, with flood losses in Maharashtra and some farmers selling sugarcane for livestock, while sugar production is expected to go down. Sugar production in Maharashtra is projected to be around 1 to 2 lakh tonnes in the next season, which was earlier estimated to be 1.5 lakh tonnes, official sources said. The new sugar crushing season starts on October 1st.

This is less than 50 per cent, compared to 5.7 million tonnes last year. Heavy rains in Maharashtra last month have damaged the sugarcane crop over one lakh hectares of area. In the current year, from June 1st, it has received 5% more rainfall than usual. Earlier, the prolonged dry weather caused a shortage of fodder in the state, which enabled farmers to sell sugarcane as livestock.

Generally, sugarcane prices, which are fixed by the government, remain higher than fodder prices, unless there is an abusive situation. Livestock prices increase in poor rainfall conditions.

Maharashtra farmers are currently selling sugarcane as livestock at a price of Rs 1 per tonne, while the government has fixed the price of sugarcane for selling the mills for the current season.

Keeping in view the shortage of fodder, five animal centers have been opened in the state to provide food to 6.7 lakh cattle. Farmers are getting cash against the sugarcane sold for livestock as compared to the mills paid by the mills, the source added.

Farmers are getting good money because of this, not only are the animals getting food while sugar production is not high. The country had a record production of 8.5 million tonnes in the current season. Production is expected to drop to 8 million tonnes in the coming season. Due to the decline in production, the sugar will be reduced and exports will be lower, which will support the global sugar prices, sources added.