Published on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 08:30 | Source : Business Line
Updated at Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 08:41
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Industry, Centre differ on sugar output estimate
The sugar industry and the Centre seem to be having divergent perceptions regarding domestic output prospects for the new 2008-09 crushing season (October-September).
The sugar industry and the Centre seem to be having divergent perceptions regarding domestic output prospects for the new 2008-09 crushing season (October-September).
Original estimate
On Monday, the Union Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, stuck to the Centre's original sugar production estimate of 220 lakh tonnes (lt) for 2008-09, while inaugurating the 49th annual general body meeting of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSFL) here.
This is against the likely 265 lt during the current season and the all-time high of 283.28 lt achieved in 2006-07.
For the new season, Mr Pawar said with opening stocks of 110 lt (as on October 1) and production of 220 lt "the country will not face any problem as far as sugar (supply) is concerned" and "there will not be any requirement for imports".
However, NFCSFL president Mr Jayantilal B. Patel had a somewhat different take on the matter. According to him, sugar production during 2008-09 would be only around 200 lt, as against a domestic requirement of 225 lt.
