Year: 2017

Sugar mills in Maharashtra have decided to start cane crushing operations for the 2017-18 (Oct-Sep) season from Nov 1, putting to rest speculation about an early start to crushing operations. Among other decisions, the state pursue restructuring of 61 billion rupees worth of outstanding loans of 90 cooperative sugar mills with the Centre. The ban on export of sugarcane may have been taken in the wake of sharp fall in output in the neighboring north Karnataka. Also, Maharashtra wants to raise the longevity of crushing season with an intention to raise the output. The state government expects to crush over 65 million tonne of sugarcane to produce 7.3 million tonne sugar in the year starting Oct 1. This year, sugar output was at 4.2 million tonne.