Reasons for Decline in Sugar Production in Maharashtra (2024-25 Season)

22-Mar-2025 10:18 AM

Reasons for Decline in Sugar Production in Maharashtra (2024-25 Season)
★ Only 904 lakh tonnes of sugarcane was available for crushing in the 2024-25 season, compared to 1,076 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
★ Irregular and insufficient rainfall during the monsoon affected sugarcane quality and growth.  
★ Due to fodder shortage, farmers increasingly used sugarcane as livestock feed.  
★ Maharashtra's state assembly elections delayed the crushing season.
★ Karnataka's sugar mills started operations on November 8, 2024, attracting sugarcane from Maharashtra’s border districts (Kolhapur and Sangli).
★ The Indian government allowed ethanol production from sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses. As a result, 12 lakh tonnes of sugarcane were diverted to ethanol production, reducing sugar output.
★ The sugar recovery rate fell to 9.45% (from 10.16% last year). Kolhapur recorded 10.75%, while Solapur lagged at 7.88%.
★ By March 18, 2025, 172 out of 200 mills had shut down, earlier than the previous season.
★ More farmers sold sugarcane to Khandsari and jaggery units for faster payments, reducing supply to sugar mills.
★ By March 18, 2025, 837.31 lakh tonnes of sugarcane were crushed (down by 19% from 1,029.98 lakh tonnes last year), producing 79.11 lakh tonnes of sugar—a 24% decline from 104.68 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
★ Uttar Pradesh also faced crop diseases, while Karnataka and other states witnessed lower sugarcane output.
★ With lower production and open exports, sugar prices are expected to remain firm.