Sugarcane sowing may be lower in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jun 17 (UNI) Area under sugarcane in Maharashtra, one of the major sugar producers in the country, is likely to be lower by 20 per cent this year impacting the sugar production during 2008-09 season, according to a leading exporter.

Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Pune, Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Yavatmal, Buldhana and Beed are the districts that produce sugarcane in Maharashtra.

This year the production is expected to be around 9.05 million tonnes when the crushing seson ends in September. ''Initial indications are that the sowing operations will fall short by 20 per cent this year'' Mr Chandrakant Sanghvi, Senior Director of Sanghvi sugar exporters limited, told UNI.

The output this year is slightly lower than the 9.1 million tonnes produced last year, he said.

The price of sugar is hovering around Rs 17 to Rs 22 per kg at the retail markets due to lower production in the state.

The Commodity prices are likely to cross above Rs 25 per kg in the forthcoming festival season particularly Ganpati, Dussera and Diwali due to 25 per cent higher transport charges, Mr Sanghi added.

UNI AR GR AG AK RK1625