India is likely to witness surplus sugar production during the next two years on account of a bumper sugarcane crop. According to OP Dhanuka, CMD, Riga Sugar Company Ltd, production of sugar in 2017-18 marketing year (October-September) is likely to be close to 25.5 million tonnes (mt), a growth of 25 per cent over last year on higher sugarcane area. The country’s annual consumption is pegged at 24 mt. It is estimated that the area under sugarcane cultivation is higher at 49.88-lakh hectares this year compared to 45.64-lakh hectares in 2016-17.