Sanjay Khatal, managing director of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Federation says sugar production in Maharashtra is likely to fall significantly for the year beginning October, reports Business Line.
The fall in production is being predicted because monsoon is expected to be a little weal this year.
Experts are quoted saying farmers may abandon sugarcane farming and go for short duration crops.
India’s total sugar production reached a record 32.5 million tons in 2017-18 but it may drop to 31.5 million tonnes in the current year, and to 30 million tons in the year starting Oct 1. Output could fall to 27-28 million tons in 2020-21, according to the federation.